A manifestation of the continuing gentrification of downtown Auckland, The Pacifica will celebrate its sky-scraping 178-metre height and spectacular views in a shimmering display.
Previously the most significant Commerce St landmark for many of us has been The White Lady food-truck's nightly appearance, but come October work will start here on one of Auckland's tallest residential skyscrapers.
The Pacifica will also offer a boutique hotel with a separate entrance in the podium of the building, a laneway through to the next block and a ground floor likely to have a restaurant.
Already 102 of the 282 apartments in the 57-storey tower have been sold, totalling more than $160 million in sales.
Director and managing partner of Plus Architecture in New Zealand, Jaimin Atkins, says: "We wanted to create something which celebrated the height of the building and its verticality."
The building's distinctive facade will be made of glass designed to sparkle in the sunlight, reminiscent of the shimmering Waitemata Harbour.
Jaimin describes the way the glass pattern twists up the building saying: "This building has four really distinct ground interfaces and we're taking those and wrapping them up like a vortex to form these diagonals going up the building."
Part of the site's appeal for international developer firm Hengyi Pacific was the height covenant over a neighbouring six-storey building that protects unobstructed northerly views over the harbour and Hauraki Gulf.
Also within walking distance are Auckland University, Spark (formerly Vector) Arena, the Viaduct and Britomart Train Station.
In keeping with a luxury development The Pacifica will offer residents a spa-sauna, library, cinema-media room, lounge and swimming pool.
Jaimin says: "You're not going to get those sort of facilities in many places. The pool - because it's elevated and open at one end - has the striking aspect of swimming inside and outside."
It's anticipated The Pacifica will offer 282 predominantly owner-occupier residences although Jaimin points out there's fluidity in that number as some buyers want to amalgamate multiple apartments into larger residences.
The apartments are available to buy off the plans in one, two and three bedroom formats, some including studies.
Lower level apartments have balconies with those above Level 26 boasting enclosed winter-gardens, the modern incarnation of a sunroom; more practical due to the increasing wind factor experienced higher up a building.
Quality finishes include hardwood floors in kitchen areas with wool or deep pile carpets elsewhere, stone benches and splash-backs, mostly European appliances and full air-conditioning.
Upper penthouse residences are typically three to a level with the benefit of corner positions and the majority of upgrade options offered to other apartments included as standard.
These include wine fridges, rain showers, oven towers, study joinery, bar joinery and under-floor heating.
The development will include a laneway connecting Commerce St to Gore St.
Natural materials such as brick, stone and timber will provide a sense of warmth to The Pacifica's new lane.
Residents can buy car parks which will operate as 24/7 valet parking where the valet takes the keys from the owner and takes the vehicle up a lift to one of the parking levels.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2020.
