The former Auckland Chief Post Office was one of New Zealand's most significant heritage restoration projects, designed by Cheshire Architects in close collaboration with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

Now the entrance to the Britomart/Waitematā Station precinct, the objective was to preserve an iconic Category 1 heritage building while adapting it for modern commercial use and integrating it with Auckland's expanding rail infrastructure.

A floor complementing architectural vision

The Mapei Ultratop self-levelling cementitious flooring system was selected to create the stair treads and landings with a terrazzo aesthetic, combining the speed and performance of a cementitious topping with the classic appearance of polished terrazzo.

Its high mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, ultra-fast hardening time, and low maintenance make Ultratop ideal for installation in this high-traffic public space.

Ultratop was placed over the prepared concrete substrate before selected decorative aggregates were broadcast into the surface. Once cured, the floor was progressively ground, honed and polished to expose the aggregate, producing a sleek, highly durable finish with aesthetic appeal.

Completed with heritage and sustainability objectives in mind

Giacon Terrazzo Limited expertly installed the in-situ terrazzo flooring and handcrafted terrazzo tiles, adding a distinctive and timeless element to the project.

The completed Terrazzo floor delivers a seamless, elegant finish that complements the heritage character of the building while meeting the demands of a modern commercial environment.

This system contributed to the project's sustainability requirements through its refurbishment of an existing structure, as well as having Environmental Product Declaration and Volatile Organic Compound certifications.

Overall, the use of this high-performance cementitious terrazzo solution helped to create a premium interior that is both visually striking and built to perform for decades.