Solving Auckland's Housing Crisis, One Beautiful Apartment at a Time
The city's skyline is about to change for the better thanks to these new-build projects
Immigration in Auckland is up and the city is the fastest-growing in the Southern Hemisphere – in just 15 years, the city will increase in size by a third, to two million people. All those people have to go somewhere but traditionally, Auckland hasn’t been particularly good at accommodating massive housing growth, preferring to continue sprawling out into the hinterland in a rolling carpet of single family homes.
Which is all very nice if you’re lucky enough to already own one. For the rest of the city, apartments are in hot demand: there are something like 6000 on the books for construction in the next few years. The city – finally – is growing up, building apartments that people actually want to live in.
Which is all very nice if you’re lucky enough to already own one. For the rest of the city, apartments are in hot demand: there are something like 6000 on the books for construction in the next few years. The city – finally – is growing up, building apartments that people actually want to live in.
Some of the city’s best architects have been behind the new buildings, and the best of them are on the city fringe close to cafes, restaurants and local shopping strips. They’re often in rapidly gentrifying areas close to public transport and in good school zones, which has made them attractive to families with children who might otherwise live in a detached house. They’re not cheap – nothing in Auckland is – but they are beautiful.
Reach for the sky
On a ridge in gritty Newton, one of the highest points in Central Auckland, Cheshire Architects has designed SKHY, a spectacular refit of a 1970s office tower. The views are extraordinary: over the city and harbour in one direction, and the rolling volcanoes of Mount Eden, Mount Roskill and Mount Albert in the other.
Cheshire’s design strips the building back to its bones, exposing the raw concrete beams and inserting spare, elegant interiors in wood and touches of stone.
On a ridge in gritty Newton, one of the highest points in Central Auckland, Cheshire Architects has designed SKHY, a spectacular refit of a 1970s office tower. The views are extraordinary: over the city and harbour in one direction, and the rolling volcanoes of Mount Eden, Mount Roskill and Mount Albert in the other.
Cheshire’s design strips the building back to its bones, exposing the raw concrete beams and inserting spare, elegant interiors in wood and touches of stone.
Green fringe
On another city-fringe ridge – this time just to the west of downtown – Fearon Hay and PeddleThorp Architects have designed Union Green, one of the first apartment blocks in recent years to put design at the forefront of the development. Apartments and townhouses are gathered around a central courtyard planted with jacaranda trees: green walls and established trees are part and parcel of the approach.
On another city-fringe ridge – this time just to the west of downtown – Fearon Hay and PeddleThorp Architects have designed Union Green, one of the first apartment blocks in recent years to put design at the forefront of the development. Apartments and townhouses are gathered around a central courtyard planted with jacaranda trees: green walls and established trees are part and parcel of the approach.
Flora and fauna
Botanica, neighbouring leafy Mount Eden, has sold out. Small wonder – the mix of apartments and terrace houses, clustered around a central green courtyard with individual terraces is a bit of a winner; plant types, including herbs, will change through the seasons. “The design has been driven by the notion of ‘uncooked muesli’,” says architect Richard Goldie at PeddleThorp Architects.
Botanica, neighbouring leafy Mount Eden, has sold out. Small wonder – the mix of apartments and terrace houses, clustered around a central green courtyard with individual terraces is a bit of a winner; plant types, including herbs, will change through the seasons. “The design has been driven by the notion of ‘uncooked muesli’,” says architect Richard Goldie at PeddleThorp Architects.
“By this we mean the accent on natural elements – natural materials, a healthy, rehabilitating design and a strong emphasis on the gardens that will occupy both the perimeter and the centre of the building.”
Inside, the apartments have flexible spaces with plenty of storage and well-appointed kitchens. On-site bike parking is a plus.
Inside, the apartments have flexible spaces with plenty of storage and well-appointed kitchens. On-site bike parking is a plus.
Good citizen
Just off Newton Road in the middle of gentrifying Eden Terrace, the developers of The Citizen split the apartment block into two, six-level buildings housing spacious apartments. Apartments on the lower levels have exposed concrete ceilings, as seen in the image above, while all of them have big terraces and decks, some of which are under cover for all-round use.
Just off Newton Road in the middle of gentrifying Eden Terrace, the developers of The Citizen split the apartment block into two, six-level buildings housing spacious apartments. Apartments on the lower levels have exposed concrete ceilings, as seen in the image above, while all of them have big terraces and decks, some of which are under cover for all-round use.
The building was designed by Urban Collective in association with Paul Brown Architects. Together, they’ve specified an on-trend mix of timber, stone and brass in the fitouts. Floor-to-ceiling doors to decks make the place feel spacious and airy. Outside, balconies have slatted steel balconies; it is very nicely done.
The buildings are subtly different, depending on their orientation: irregular glazed balconies and bagged brick on the eastern side which catches morning sun; natural timber and steel on the western side, which is awash with late-afternoon light.
The buildings are subtly different, depending on their orientation: irregular glazed balconies and bagged brick on the eastern side which catches morning sun; natural timber and steel on the western side, which is awash with late-afternoon light.
Model development
With Ford Lofts, Cheshire Architects has taken a building down a lane that the city had forgotten and made it into something splendid, creating just 10 lofts in the process. A gorgeous brick warehouse originally built to assemble Model A Fords back in the 1920s, the building, again, has beautiful bones, which Cheshire has stripped back carefully to brick and concrete, adding lacquered steel and hand-oiled timber.
With Ford Lofts, Cheshire Architects has taken a building down a lane that the city had forgotten and made it into something splendid, creating just 10 lofts in the process. A gorgeous brick warehouse originally built to assemble Model A Fords back in the 1920s, the building, again, has beautiful bones, which Cheshire has stripped back carefully to brick and concrete, adding lacquered steel and hand-oiled timber.
They’re big – ranging from 140 to 200 square metres. Each apartment has a generous living space and a big outdoor area – sometimes, these have views of the surrounding neighbourhood, while others are internal.
What’s particularly delightful about the building is the way the place has been respected – the age of the building shines through in its patina, beaten-up columns and all.
What’s particularly delightful about the building is the way the place has been respected – the age of the building shines through in its patina, beaten-up columns and all.
Quarter light
Wynyard Quarter is right on the Waitemata Harbour, occupying 35 hectares of reclaimed land that used to be known as the ‘Tank Farm’. Massive concrete silos housed fuel, grain and cement, and symbolised everything that Auckland was doing wrong with urban land and public space. Now, it’s an oasis on the edge of the city. There are parks and restaurants, walking paths and native planting – not to mention a ‘pedestrians-first’ policy that aims to reduce the use of cars.
Here, the notable firm Architectus – known for its thoughtful modernist commercial buildings – has designed Wynyard Residences, a collection of apartments and townhouses built with sun and views in mind.
Wynyard Quarter is right on the Waitemata Harbour, occupying 35 hectares of reclaimed land that used to be known as the ‘Tank Farm’. Massive concrete silos housed fuel, grain and cement, and symbolised everything that Auckland was doing wrong with urban land and public space. Now, it’s an oasis on the edge of the city. There are parks and restaurants, walking paths and native planting – not to mention a ‘pedestrians-first’ policy that aims to reduce the use of cars.
Here, the notable firm Architectus – known for its thoughtful modernist commercial buildings – has designed Wynyard Residences, a collection of apartments and townhouses built with sun and views in mind.
Rather than build one – very large – building, the architects split the site into three distinct buildings, stepping back from a public park and accessed by their own laneways.
In the front, low-rise ‘pavilions’ house a handful of apartments on each level, with beautiful views out to the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the sunset. Behind them, a gaggle of brick townhouses and a tall, contemporary apartment building: both these parts are accessed from the same laneway. A tall, contemporary apartment building rises behind them – accessed off its own lane, with shops and cafes at ground level.
In the front, low-rise ‘pavilions’ house a handful of apartments on each level, with beautiful views out to the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the sunset. Behind them, a gaggle of brick townhouses and a tall, contemporary apartment building: both these parts are accessed from the same laneway. A tall, contemporary apartment building rises behind them – accessed off its own lane, with shops and cafes at ground level.
Wherever possible, the apartments are designed to harness light and sun – in many cases by running east to west through the buildings, capturing sun at both ends of the day. And instead of balconies strung along the front of the building, they come deep inside for shade and shelter, allowing them to be used year round.
TELL US
Would you move your family to an apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
Living the High Life: The Evolution and Features of Loft Apartments
Empty Nester’s Guide to Downsizing to an Apartment
17 Clever Design and Decorating Tricks for Compact Apartments
TELL US
Would you move your family to an apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
Living the High Life: The Evolution and Features of Loft Apartments
Empty Nester’s Guide to Downsizing to an Apartment
17 Clever Design and Decorating Tricks for Compact Apartments