SEVEN SISTERS

Oriental Bay, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand · 2022

This 15-metre-long outdoor mural was commissioned in 2022 by an owner of one of the iconic historic Edwardian terrace homes known locally as the “Seven Sisters”, built circa 1905–1906 by architect Joshua Charlesworth at 188–200 Oriental Parade.

The mural marks the apex of Heimler and Proc’s meticulous historical research, seeking to revive the layered identity of the site. Rendered predominantly in sepia tones that evoke archival photographs and faded documents, the composition visualises the early 20th-century streetscape of Oriental Bay, capturing the heritage character of the original houses. Prominent among the figures is a portrait of the original architect, standing before the elegant residence he designed that was demolished in the 1960s. Nearby, the city’s first newspaper journalist alights from a tram that once ran through these very streets. The vivid red of the tram injects a bold chromatic counterpoint, infusing the otherwise nostalgic palette with unexpected vitality and joy. The result is an iconic piece of public art that bridges past and present, transforming local memory into a living, celebratory archive.