STREETS AHEAD: Victoria University architecture programme director Mark Southcombe displays a model of the historic Albemarle Hotel beside his students' vision of Cuba St in 2035.

Cuba St can still be the charismatic hub of Wellington and stay safe in an earthquake, a group of architecture students says.

A model of the street as it could look in 22 years is on display at the Wellington Rocks! earthquake safety expo at the Town Hall this weekend.

The detailed model, created by Victoria University students, is 10 metres long and took thousands of hours to assemble.

It depicts a street that preserves its heritage character while allowing for buildings to be strengthened for quakes and expanded for commercial and residential activity.

The old buildings mostly remain, joined by new developments which create European-style courtyards and side streets, topped off with rooftop bars and shops.

One development at the upper end would even put a footbridge across the street.

More than 40 Cuba St buildings are classified as an earthquake risk by Wellington City Council.

The history that lends so much character to the street is proving a curse for residents and owners.

Victoria University architecture programme director Mark Southcombe said the model had innovative answers to the problems Cuba St faced.

"When a building gets a red or orange sticker, the typical reaction is to knock it over, or retain only its facade.

"It's not just an engineering problem . . . it creates a large amount of architectural work."

The students came up with different ways of shoring up and redeveloping the heritage buildings.

For example, the facade and lower floors of a heritage building near Ghuznee St are kept intact while new floors, in a complementary modern style, are added above.

For the street as a whole, the important thing was to keep the heritage, quirky stores and cafes, Mr Southcombe said.

By and large, the students had shown it could be achieved.

Development of the street had to shy away from large-scale retail and residential blocks.

"There is a terrible risk of losing some of what characterises Cuba St . . . There will be pressures to redevelop in large lumps, and it will be a shame if that happens.

"You wouldn't be able to maintain many of the [smaller] tenants who make Cuba St what it is."

Via the model project, the students had shown what was possible.

"It's absolutely feasible," he said. "Collaboration is the key - the public, council and building owners have to work together."

VISION FOR 2035

New buildings have more space for apartments and shops, but remain in-scale with the heritage surroundings

Lots of side alleys and courtyards off Cuba St create an intimate atmosphere

Subway under Vivian St

Rooftop bars, restaurants, cafes and gardens

Heritage buildings strengthened, some with modern additions

Large apartment and commercial blocks avoided