Main Beach Takapuna adds a welcoming new hospitality complex to Auckland's North Shore

This vibrant new development provides an active edge to Takapuna beachfront this and the fit-out for Tokyo Bay restaurant were by Ignite Architects

Main Beach Takapuna by Ignite Architects creates a architecture, building, evening, facade, home, house, mixed use, real estate, reflection, residential area, sky, teal — Main Beach Takapuna by Ignite Architects creates a dramatic new dining hub on the North Shore beach.

Bifold doors and clerestory windows in one of architecture, building, corporate headquarters, facade, real estate, sky

Interiors of Tokyo Bay restaurant, one of the restaurant, black, gray

Features of Tokyo Bay restaurant include a hanging interior design, white

At Tokyo Bay restaurant a faux stone wall interior design, room, wall, black, white

Tokyo Bay restaurant has tiered dining areas and café, interior design, restaurant, black, brown, orange

One of Auckland's most popular city escapes, Takapuna Beach now has a new hospitality hub that brings life to the beach and connects to the town.

Developer Copson Group asked Ignite Architects to design Main Beach Takapuna on a prime 10,000m² beachfront site. The brief was to develop it into a popular asset for the local community, visitors from greater Auckland, and tourists the destination venue also had to capture the feel of Takapuna.

The resulting design provides a vibrant, active edge to the beachfront, with views of the beach and Hauraki Gulf beyond, says Ignite's Jeremy Whelan.

"The design creates a dynamic complex of bars and restaurants. Themed on a Takapuna boat house concept, the extensive use of glazing on the building's front fae§ade and its wrap-around decks all make the most of the picturesque outlook."

Metal profiled seamless cladding and framed rooflines accentuate each tenancy and make the single-level building seem larger than it is.

"To give the client greater flexibility in managing leases, the building's design allows it to be broken up into modules to suit the varying needs of current and future tenants," says Whelan.

Ignite also created a convenient car park, and linked the development back through to Takapuna's high street via a bridge and walkway.

Ignite's interiors team also undertook the fit-out of one of the new restaurant tenants, Tokyo Bay.

The owners of Tokyo Bay wanted diners to experience traditional Japanese fare in a stunning, contemporary setting. To this end, Tokyo Bay is heavily influenced by the ocean, both in its menu and through myriad subtle design references.

A skylight brings in natural light and large bi-fold doors optimise connection to the setting, as does the use of texture and natural elements. Guests are welcomed into Tokyo Bay by an illuminated glass floor which, in a nod to traditional Japanese gardens, is embedded with stepping stones, while red lights reference the glow of washi paper lanterns.

Clean lines, quality materials and bespoke design elements feature throughout.

Other key projects by Ignite include Te Awa Shopping Centre in Hamilton, Auckland's Chancery Square, 277 Newmarket, the Bayfair Shopping Centre in Tauranga, and Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre in Sydney.