KEY POINTS:
PRECINCT APARTMENTS,
6-8 LORNE STREET,
AUCKLAND CITY.
When Clark Brown Architects were asked by developer David Henderson for advice on a good spot in central Auckland to put an apartment building, they told him that his own Kitchener Group already had it.
Its double site on 6 and 8 Lorne Street was in the heart of the city, close to restaurants, galleries and the Aotea Centre, and any development would have views of Albert Park.
As a bonus, Kitchener at the time owned neighbouring buildings. That meant it was able to do a sort of three-dimensional subdivision, bundling the air rights in with Precinct titles, so future buildings would not conceal the views.
Architect Paul Brown says the resulting brief was for a tall narrow building of a high quality to justify the view premium.
Generous planning treatment of balcony space allowed a bigger building, so there are slate-floored balconies around each apartment, wide enough in the front for Auckland-style outside living. They're not just smoker's balconies, like many other buildings in the city, so the feeling of vertical drop common in multi-storey apartments is lessened. They are edged with laminated glass. "The street level is small scale, but when you get above on the balconies, it feels like a different world," Brown says.
The building was completed three months ago, and now an investor who bought off the plans is reshuffling his portfolio, so 11 new apartments are up for sale.
Nine have one bedroom and a study, and two are two-bedroom. These latter apartments are on the Lorne Street side with 220 degree views looking west towards the Waitakere ranges, north towards the bridge and shore, and more easterly over Rangitoto and the Coromandel.
The bedrooms are at either corner, one with an en suite bathroom, with a combined kitchen, dining and living area in between, and a bathroom with bath off the front entrance.
Brown says the kitchen was deliberately kept simple, because there's not a huge demand that such apartments be used for entertaining. "Why would you, when there are so many restaurants downstairs," he asks.
Total area is 89sq m, or 115 with the deck included.
Each bedroom has sliding glass doors opening on to the deck.
A larger apartment could be had by knocking out the wall into the studio next door, and some residents have already done this.
Brown says light is the key to designing a successful apartment.
"Living spaces need access to good natural light, with an outlook from the apartment. Acoustics are also really important. New Zealand building codes say you shouldn't be able to hear the people next door.
"Also, if you close the window, you should be shutting out the noise of the city."
Because Precinct contains some managed apartments, there is a concierge, which creates additional security.
There is also a gym and swimming pool for residents on the eighth floor.
The building has a stacking system for residents' cars, and there are several car parking buildings nearby.