Community spirit

To win an architectural award is a great accolade. However, a building that is practical and pragmatic in its design can be equally complex, demanding and challenging to create.

Leuschke Group Ltd, Architects was commissioned to design the Federal Apartments at a time when Auckland City Council was changing its rules to encourage apartment construction in the CBD. During this time a series of town-planning changes and the establishment of the Urban Design Panel meant developers and architects had to work through various new controls as they shaped the designs for each new apartment proposal.

Architect Colin Leuschke says his company not only incorporated all the council requirements into the design of Federal Apartments, but also established an innovative way to maximise a site that was deeper than it was wide.

"All apartments seek light, and both the council and NZ Building Code impose standards for natural light and outlook. By siting the two towers of the building in a wedge-shape that opens out as a V towards the road, every apartment has good light and a view," says Leuschke.

To create a community spirit for the apartments, retail stores at street level ensure the area is busy and safe, even at night, and a pedestrian gate opens into a plaza that provides open space for residents. Two-storey maisonettes open off each side of the plaza and residents pass their entrances on their way to the elevator lobby. A glass canopy keeps the arrival area dry and enhances the sense of intimacy and security.

"This building was designed to be constructed economically and in quick time. Its quality is seen in the robustness of the materials and in their correct assembly, rather than in their cost," says Leuschke.

For information, contact Leuschke Group Ltd, Architects, PO Box 109517, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, phone (09) 522 5525, fax (09) 353 1199. Email: colin@leuschke.co.nz. Website: www.leuschke.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas