For Wellingtonians, the cable car (or funicular) is a precious icon, connecting Wellington’s City Centre with the hillside suburb of Kelburn, where the breathtaking vista of Wellington’s Harbour can now be seen from its new terminus building.

Designed by Bevin + Slessor Architects, the terminus’ design features glued laminated timber (glulam) beams which subtly twist as they wrap over the building’s exterior form. Architectural writer Peter Wood suggests that “the strength of this building lies in recognising that the architecture of the Kelburn terminus shouldn’t compete with the psychological delight of riding the funicular”.

The Kelburn Cable Car Terminus is featured in a new film by Simon Wilson, produced in association with Architecture NZ.

Read Peter Wood’s review of the Kelburn Cable Car Terminus in Architecture New Zealand (Issue 03.2014, May/June), found in good bookstores and galleries, or subscribe to the journal here.