Commercial

Jack Weine Grandchildren Trust

Description: New Commercial Development.

This project arose as a result of the dilapidated and redundant Otaki Railway Theatre which no longer had any useful purpose except for storage. Due to the theatre’s poor condition, the building was replaced with a similar sized new shopping complex, located prominently between the main road (State Highway 1) and the Railway Station.

The concept was to orientate a modern retail image with specific exposure from the busy street corner. This was achieved with the simple uses of concrete and glass. The projecting precast concrete panels in particular are designed to clearly display signage to the approaching pedestrians and passing traffic. Once under construction, tenancy space was quickly snapped up attributing to the success of the retail development.  

SOHMOH Commercial LTD

Description: Commercial Alterations and Additions.

The proposed re-imaging and expansion of this existing 1970’s Johnsonville building was in direct response to the building’s lack of tenants and inadequacy to provide high quality retail and office space in comparison with the competing local premises. Due to the building’s inherent exposure within the streetscape, the proposed simple form and modern modular façade provides each tenant with a distinct location and prominent street front entrance.

The upper floor was refurbished to attract new office tenants and provide more controlled levels of light within the office space. The project also saw the removal of a redundant loading dock after thorough traffic engineering and consent process.

Thai Express

Description: Retail Fit Out.

The Thai Express Restaurant brings in itself a new concept of Asian style fast food that provids good quality food at a reasonable rate to Wellington, and in particular, the Cuba street precinct. The location was previously a second hand clothing store that had inhabited the building for the past 20 years.  

Obtaining approval to house the restaurant had several challenges associated with the change of use of the tenancy, requiring both the building’s structural integrity and access routes within the existing building to be assessed.

The fit out was carried out over a short 2 month construction period with the mechanical services being a major component to the project that, requiring specific design coordination and resolution.

The décor was a simple blend of the client’s red branding with complimenting food images and a skilfully chosen pallet of natural colours to off set the pictorial menu. Specific, purpose designed lampshades were manufactured for this project, providing the specific light quality and special distinction desired within the dinning portion of the restaurant.

New entrance to office and apartments

Description: Upgrade entry to office and flats at street level.

This proposal came as a response to our interest in the way architecture can create visual prompts and signs to guide people from one place to another.

The journey in this case was from the street to the offices and apartments above.

We used a variety of architectural guides to lead people on the journey of ‘edge to center’. Curved timber clad walls express movement, and funnels occupants through the space.

Material selection and orientation combined with lighting on the walls, ceiling, and floor also contribute to this idea; they provide orientation and directionality. The proposal also provides interest and delight for the occupants undertaking the daily journey.

DX Mail

Description: Alterations and additions to DX Mail

The brief required us to maximise space for mail sorting. We proposed to do this by removing and relocating existing office spaces. The addition will raise company profile and presence with additional parking closer to the site entry.

A new structure proposed above existing staff rooms and offices will contain the relocated offices. Views down to the sorting room will provide a connection between the two spaces. A new boardroom placed on the corner of the building will have great views to Aotea Quay via a ‘corner cut away’. New signage installed below the boardroom will capture the visual attention of the cars passing by and signify entry.

Taranaki St Accommodation

Description: Residential student accommodation.

This development was created to meet the demand for students in the Wellington area. Two similar blocks of boarding house accommodation were designed on the site with a parking precinct between. Security was the most important issue for the occupants.
The resulting scheme creates accommodation about an internal courtyard secure from the public.
The blocks use similar imagery and materials, which is varied in both texture and colour to break up the large forms. Ply and weatherboard cladding are used to provide varying textures together with the use of negative detailing and battened effects. Boxes are pushed out of the side facades to articulate and vary the shape of the façade.
Living spaces open onto a private interior landscaped courtyard to provide pleasant outdoor environment for the students.

Athletic Park Villas

Description: Retirement Village Self Contained Accommodation Units.

This development was the first stage of a larger retirement village proposed to cover the whole of the old Athletic Park area.
21 Units were developed as the first stage of the development. Using a modern design based on traditional proportions to sit along side the local older styled dwellings of the area.
Each dwelling has its on private space within the larger communal area.
The scheme created accommodation about an internal street. The dwellings themselves provide security to the development.
The blocks use similar imagery and materials, which is varied in both texture and Colour detail and form have been varied to provide relief and avoid monotony.
Plaster cladding has been broken up with corrugated or weatherboard panels as a reference to the older materials of the areas. Roof pitches match the traditional forms and use gables which were predominate of the housing stock at the turn of the century.

Contact Details

phone 04-384 8395
fax 04-385 1102

email rob@architecture.gen.nz
web www.architecture.gen.nz

street address 47 Cuba St, Wellington
postal address PO Box 11083, Wellington