Gourlie transforming space into ‘embassy’

Dunedin resident Paul Gourlie is setting up a combined flat/gathering space in "The Embassy" opposite the University of Otago library. PHOTO: GRETA YEOMAN
Dunedin resident Paul Gourlie is setting up a combined flat/gathering space in "The Embassy" opposite the University of Otago library. PHOTO: GRETA YEOMAN

Combining the ‘‘town and gown’’ atmosphere of Dunedin, as well as providing a gathering space is the aim of a new project on Albany St, its creator says.

Paul Gourlie hopes the ‘‘The Embassy and Residence’’, at 76 Albany St, will provide both a flat for tenants and a workspace for students and other residents.

The flat would have four permanent residents, including Mr Gourlie, who said he had always worked from home, and the other tenants would be university students.

Mr Gourlie, who is president of the Dunedin Multi-Ethnic Council and is involved with various community organisations in the city, said the collaboration with the landlord to ‘‘do up’’ the flat and keep it at a good living standard — unlike its previous use as ‘‘party central’’ — would hopefully demonstrate a ‘‘really good tenant/landlord relationship’’.

He hoped it would also encourage other landlords and tenants on Albany St to also do up and maintain flats to a good living standard.

‘‘It’s such a beautiful Dunedin building.’’

They also wanted to make the flat plastic-free, which would be ‘‘quite a big exercise’’, and would be making raised gardens using wooden pallets.

The ‘‘Embassy and Residence’’ would open on April 30 and an official open day would be held from 11am to 4pm, Mr Gourlie said.

Mr Gourlie was the president of the Otago University Student Association in the 1980s.

GRETA.YEOMAN@thestar.co.nz 

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