Dock of the bay

There are many lifestyle benefits of Auckland harbourside living, including spectacular outlooks and the close vicinity of the CBD. However, traffic and port noise may be off-putting for some homeowners, which is why The Docks apartments, a series of four towers housing 220 apartments in total, was designed to have a high acoustic rating.

The peace and quiet enjoyed by residents of The Docks is due to the nature of products specified for the cladding and glazing, says project manager Ian Savage from Brookfield Multiplex.

"Exterior facades are designed and constructed to achieve an acoustic rating of 35dB in bedrooms, while exterior noise levels exceed 70dB. This was achieved by using various glass types with specific aluminium joinery extrusion Xpressclad by PBS and pre-cast panels with internal wall construction treatments. Testing was carried out by council and in-house acoustic engineers."

Also adding to the idea of these apartments as an oasis in the city are the landscaped podium spaces between each building. These areas feature reflective ponds and grassed spaces for community living.

"Working closely with property experts Davis Langdon and architect Clark Brown, we have gained a great deal of satisfaction in delivering the finished product for our client, Kells Groups, and in being able to help them realise their vision with this project," says Savage.

The Docks is nominated for the Fisher & Paykel Multi-Unit Residential Property Award at the 2008 Property Council New Zealand Awards.

For more information, contact Brookfield Multiplex, Level 8, 66 Wyndham Street, Auckland, phone (09) 300 2000, fax (09) 300 2100. Or visit the website: www.brookfieldmultiplex.com.

Story by: Trendsideas