Auckland: Sleek and central

This funky development is perfect for people who want to work and play close to the city centre.

By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

White, grey, black and splashes of red comfortably rub shoulders in this groovy development - Rubix - in a trendy neighbourhood of Auckland's inner-city fringe. With three road frontages - France St, Karaka St and Randolph St - the clean-lined, masculine concrete building, which enjoys extensive city views, is a clever combination of residential and commercial dwellings.

The vision of developers Richard White and Neil Salter of Mikano Investments and the creative skills of architect Richard Naish of RTA Studio has resulted in a modish building recreated from the existing shell of the former commercial dwelling occupying the westerly orientated site.

Says Salter: "We have set out to create a true mixed-use development where people work and reside. There are many synergies to these types of development, including security and a busy, vibrant feel."

White adds that by utilising the magnificent concrete structure hidden under the old cladding, it was possible to create a modern, attractive, high-profile design centre that would be a classic example of today's mixed-use lifestyle.

Finally settling on a design, after it changed from two to four large groovy concrete hangers to 80 residential boxes and back again, with variations of all of the above, the building is split into a mix of 45 percent residential and 55 percent commercial dwellings.

Layered like a cake, the building has residential accommodation at the top to enjoy the exceptional views, balconied commercial units in the middle and larger commercial art-gallery style units on the ground level, opening to the car park. This means the vast space has been crafted to perfection.

The penthouse apartments with their high 2.7m stud, large west-facing balconies and east-facing courtyards are designed to follow the sun, and the two loft apartments, which are a new release and over 160sq m, have their own private garaging with a separate street entrance and internal access.

Says Salter: "The loft apartments have a massive north-facing wall of glass over 5m in height, and the private garages accommodate between two and three cars with plenty of extra storage and even room for an office or studio."

The middle floor is orientated to commercial use and offers practical open-plan space with a high stud, well-lit interiors, a mezzanine with a large deck and plenty of on-site car parks. The ground floor areas, which are finished more like a classic art gallery, have concrete floors, white walls and ceilings to allow for lots of light and ventilation and wide frontages opening to the car park.

INTERIORS

Giving the building a sense of robustness, says Naish, concrete was used in combination with steel, mesh and glass. Carrying this strong theme to the interior, the clean white rendered concrete exterior has been replicated inside in the simple white plasterboard interior surfaces - with the kitchen and bathrooms injecting a lively ambience.

These clean lines have been extended to the rest of the interior with the use of quality fittings and fixtures, including Fisher & Paykel appliances, Melteca cabinetry and Ideal Standard tapware, baths, showers and toilets (in the residential homes).

The site is close to everything - the CBD, Ponsonby, Newmarket and all the major motorways. This highly sought-after area is now appealing to an eclectic audience, and this played a strong part in developing the complex into this comfortable mix of commercial and residential properties.

Vital Statistics
ADDRESS: Rubix, 74 France St, Auckland.

FEATURES: Seven large penthouse and two loft apartments with extensive views; two- or three-bedroom options; quality fixtures and fittings; high studs; generous proportions; floor-to-ceiling glazing; two bathrooms; large terraces and private courtyards; two secure car parks; 11 commercial units on two levels with three to eight car parks; ground floor spaces feature art gallery finish and high studs and first-floor loft spaces feature mezzanines and huge balconies.

SIZE: Residential from 106sq m to 136sq m, commercial from 160sq m to 370sq m.

PRICE: Residential from $432,000, commercial from $455,000.

AGENTS: Howard Sidnam and Albert Slack, Barfoot & Thompson. Ph 307 6340 bus; Howard 021 973 389 mob; Albert 021 720 969 mob.