Walker Projects

WALKER GROUP ARCHITECTS

Regardless of the size and complexity of the project, we seek to exceed expectations in both our documentation and service, delivering projects within agreed time frames and budgets.

Walker Group Architects Ltd. has it origins as far back as 1932 when the original firm, Lewis Walker, was founded in Auckland, New Zealand. Now, as always, we aim to produce buildings of aesthetic quality, sound construction through enduring honest design, lateral thinking and excellence. We take a holistic team approach with an integrated, total building focus to create inspirational and environmentally sustainable solutions, focussing on and meeting our client’s expectation through close

client collaboration is baseline for us - “ we listen ”. We understand that the clients of the modern building and construction industry require of its consultants an understanding of the latest proven technologies and trends. The resources, people and technology in Walker Group Architects enable us to undertake a wide range of projects, through our specialist business units, including commissions involving design, feasibility studies, planning submissions, contract documentation and administration, quality control and peer reviews.

Group

METRO SKYCITY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: FORCE - VILLAGE SKYCITY

IMAX ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE AND FOODCOURT

The brief was to produce a quality building to house activities which principally revolve around or feed off entertainment. This building had to be exciting, memorable and exude the notion of entertainment. The building is incorporated into the entertainment hub known as The Edge. The building footprint fronts onto Aotea Square, Bledisloe Concourse, Queen Street and abuts The Civic Theatre, with which it shares loading facilities. It was built

which are enhanced by the new building. The tall, narrow, aerofoil plan shaped atrium runs in a strong diagonal across the complex and serves as a pedestrian link in lieu of the original streets. . With walls and roof of the same material it appears like an alien object above, plunging into and taking root in the old historic Fergusson and Civic buildings. Accentuating the difference between the old and new. Most of the activities housed within the complex such as

BOMA SUPREME AWARD,2000

NZIA RESENE COLOUR AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE, 2001

IES LIGHTING PREMIER DESIGN AWARD, 2000

the Force Cinemas, Planet Hollywood and Imax Cinema are inward looking. When the patrons visit the entertainment centre they enter a different world and everything is designed to reinforce this. In short, to keep them entertained by stimulating the senses as well as offering enough variety that they experience something new each time they visit.

TAKANINI HOUSING

With more demand for live/work premises to energise existing communities and to promote people activity within a secure area for 24 hours a day for these communities, this proposal looks at the possible redevelopment of the existing industrial zoned land in Takanini. It creates new community centre brimming with owner occupied and leased small scale mixed use working premises with the ancillary office and living spaces above. The ground level work areas can act as retail, light industrial or commercial spaces and front onto a mixture of pedestrian and busy streets which connect to the wider existing residential communities.

Set amongst tree lined avenues and village green spaces, the more public business entry from car parking courts to the building is kept separate from the private residential garden entrances.

CLIENT: HOUSING NZ

AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND

VIADUCT HARBOUR

AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: VIADUCT HARBOUR LIMITED

BRINGING BUSINESS TO THE HARBOUR

The Viaduct Harbour is a tidal man-made inlet created off Auckland’s Waitemata harbour. The reclaimed lands surrounding the Viaduct have traditionally supported robust industrial warehouses for boat manufacturing, fishing, timber and raw product storage, their activities requiring little connection to the main port and Auckland’s City Centre. New Zealand Yachting hit the world stage in 1995 with New Zealand’s winning the Americas Cup, creating new demands on this rough area, which resulted in it being transformed into a foreshore playground and promenade for locals and overseas visitors. Businesses associated with the new water activities and New Zealand’s high technology industries which had made possible the winning of the cup wanted to bring their office activities down to this man-made edge, to extend

the city business district down to the urban water edge. The result is a development which can recall the buildings of the past, with their solid in-situ concrete walls, small individual windows in classic orders and solid banded bases supported on basalt as the buildings of old, a place that you would expect to still be here in 100 years time. A green park at the foreground, a shared frontage by the offices provide more privacy for the office users and separation from the water edge promenade. More importantly, it brings back the green perimeter to the harbour removed long ago and allows all the offices to partake of the Viaduct’s activities equally. Its users have a more private realm away from the promenade.

OREWA WATERFRONT MASTER PLAN

// NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: RODNEY DISTRICT COUNCIL

After being approached by Rodney Council to be part of a community to develop town planning rules for the development of the Orewa township. We also were commissioned to design the Orewa Life Saving Club and further to investigate potential developments to the waterfront and it’s then staging sequence.

The Life Saving Club will be one of the initial catalyst buildings setting the tone and quality of this waterfront. Resource consent has been issued and documentation is underway for construction.

OREWA

TAUPO OFFICES

Using timber for building construction offers a variety of benefits. Not only is it a warm, tactile and aestheticallypleasing material, it also boasts a broad range of structural, sustainable and cost-effective attributes. One of the most distinguishing factors for timber is that it is an environmentallyfriendly and renewable material used in construction over many thousands of years. Timber also stores carbon and has low embodied energy - making it a far more environmentally-friendly option than steel or concrete.

A locally sourced material, wood is readily available throughout New Zealand and so contributes to the local economy and reduces the cost and energy required for transportation of building materials over long distances. Timber prefabricated

to a high degree with well detailed structural connections can significantly reduce construction time. Thorough timber construction can save time in labour, transport, health and safety, and disposal; making it a cost-efficient construction method. Timber can achieve high levels of structural performance in building, particularly through extreme events such as earthquakes or fires. It also weighs far less than steel or concrete, reducing foundation costs as timber construction limits the structural demands on the foundations. Timber is a good insulator especially when used in windows, doors and floors and will help reduce the energy output for heating.

TAUPO // NEW ZEALAND

SAMOAN CONSULATE

SOUTH AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND

The project consists campus style development with two building, a three level consulate office of approximately 1500 square metres, one level consulate offices, one commercial office floor and a level of ground floor retail, a separate traditional Fale building seating over 450 people which we believe to be the largest in the world, a formal Malae or traditional gathering area and an associated 55 space car park.

AWARD WINNING NZ WOOD RESENE TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

The openness of the traditional Malae and transparency through the adjacent office building at ground level provides clear sightlines that reinforce the legibility of entry points into and out of this space allowing a high level of passive surveillance at all times. From within the Malae, view corridors connect back to the Mangere town centre. From within the office building, strong visual connections were created from the north facing gathering areas and balconies. At ground level, physical connections from the retail level and Fale link these main internal spaces together worldwide was made easy via the internet.

CLIENT: GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

MOUNTAINEER

QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: WESTWOOD

GREEN STAR RATED BUILDING

Prime location. Combination of retail on ground and basement floors with office levels above. Complex issues to deal with. Integrates with a historic Mountaineer building on part of the site and very restrictive town planning rules resulted in a very successful outcome. Nominated by Queenstown Council for the ‘Heart Of The District’ Awards. The building consists of 4 floors. Ground and first floors are retail while Levels 2 and 3 are offices. ESD features include:

The proposed air-conditioning system consists of four water sourced heat pumps. The heat pumps will be VRV (variable refrigerant volume) with heat recovery. Low e double glazing. Operable External louvres We provided computer energy modelling services for this project to meet the energy criteria of NZ Green Star rating scheme.

SHOTOVER JET NEW HEAD OFFICE

DESIGN COMPETITION

QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND

Using a selected tender process, Shotover Jet wanted to replace their existing administration centre with an ’ icon’ building to attract tourists from around the world, a building with better operational flows, with an emphasis on pre-and post-jet boat experience and with provision for more revenue oriented opportunity around jet boating.

Selected as one of the two preferred schemes, the proposal achieved the complex design brief on a magnificent promontory site around which the Shotover river winds its way down to the Kawerau river then to the mighty Clutha

river. The upturned roof tips to acknowledge the mountain side forces around the promontory site. Its underside, viewed from the river below, is furrowed like the underside of a jet boat, to grip the water. From the mountains above it appears as a saddle, a waka moving down the river gorge. A Pounamu greenstone welcomes the visitor. The very first jet boat used on the river is the reception counter and focus. Sweeping views surround the visitor on all sides with invitation to see, hear, touch and move as part of the rushing and ebbing ‘river jet boating’ experience.

AJ HACKETT BUNGY

QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: AJ HACKETT BUNGY

In 2004 AJ Hackett Bungy had undergone significant extensions under Patterson Architects to provide an exciting interactive retail entrance and foyer to review and postscript the Bungy experience off the nearby Kawerau bridge.

While successful for those jumping it was not for their families and friends who would not jump but wanted to come to share in the experience. A large domed retail cocoon dominated the steel and raw pre cast concrete interior and was an enclosure to a ‘rocking’ floor experience which was not popular.

The proposal seeks to open up the raw interior by removing the cocoon and special floor, to introduce more space for visual and audio interactive experience for those not jumping, to see one’s progression from entry to centre, to watch others making the jump, their reactions down to the most detailed. More interactive activities are proposed near the bridge outside, again for those who did not want to take the big jump, as well as outside toilet facilities to cope with the huge numbers.

WAIWERA MASTER PLAN

WAIWERA // NEW ZEALAND

The intent in this design is to provide Waiwera a heart, a place where a variety of activities can occur, markets, car boot sales, musical events, etc this main space takes the form of a village square where traffic still passes across the northern edge on shared vehicle and pedestrian paving. This intermarrying also adds life and activity to the square. A increase in easily accessible street car parks close to the square is achieved on the secondary road which services the pools, brewery and apartments. At the end of this part of the road is the formal hotel entry court. The car park associated with the hotel also provides greater parking at peak times.

Our vision highlights and makes the most of the unique aspects of the location, such as healthy mineral water, natural hot springs, clean seaside environment etc. The master plan has several elements that other towns in the area don’t have, small public square giving the town a true centre, retail close to the seaside and native bush. A deliberate strong emphasis on health and wellbeing making this the capital of health and wellbeing for the North Island.

LDS TEMPLE VIEW STAKE CENTRE

4

000m2 large multi-use Stake Centre community building, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, incorporating a chapel, cultural hall, teaching blocks and administration areas. The architecture is sympathetic to the neighbouring temple and existing temple view precinct with its 1950’s American style overtone.

The attention to materials and detail is reflective of the importance of this building’s juxtaposition and relationship to the temple. The strong axis through the building, including its one large interior courtyard, is extended out into the extensively landscaped grounds. The building’s design is based on a notion of simple, honest materials, with an elegance and yet understated presence. The building is in the construction phase.

HAMILTON // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

IFLY QUEENSTOWN

QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND

The American client Skyventures & iFLY world is one of the world leading companies in the field of indoor skydiving. They have built over 51 facilities in 8 countries and have another 26 facilities in development and construction worldwide.

Skyventures & iFLY world selected Walker Commercial Architects to facilitate this process in Queenstown,

New Zealand, because of their experience with tourism and entertainment projects in the region as well as their ability to work successfully with multinational clients.

The project development was the careful amalgamation a highly demanding and technical brief for a complex building, on a difficult and restrictive site which was selected specifically for its level of exposure to a high number of tourists utilising the immediate area. The process involved a long and detailed design development phase to integrate the technical, physical and aesthetic requirements demanded by the client, site and local authority Urban Design panel to get the project through the resource consent approval process that is required in Queenstown.

CLIENT: IFLY NEW ZEALAND LTD.

The success of this project to date has been the satisfaction of the client obtaining their approved resource consent for one of a unique iFLY building proposed worldwide, located in one of the most demanding and dramatic locations in New Zealand.

Walker Commercial Architects are operating as the lead consultant and bringing together all the appropriate expertise and knowledge to ensure the viability of the project at the earliest possible stage.

The current success of the project is due to Walker Commercial Architects ability to respond to and deal with the demands required of this type of project with an International client.

SAVOY HOTEL

LONDON // ENGLAND

Refurbishment concept by London Architect Lees Associates and documentation by Walker

Group Architects.

This hotel project is an excellent example of cooperation between architects on the opposite side of the planet, combining skills and taking advantage of the time difference, to speed up productivity. Our practice was chosen because of its proven track record in detailing, documentation and for its compatible leading edge computer technology.

MILLBROOK COUNTRY CLUB

QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: MILLBROOK

Millbrook is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading golf resorts and is located within walking distance to Arrowtown and a 15 minute drive to Queenstown. The resort hems the fairways with a combination of hotel accommodation and private homes. With established and proven design guidelines monitored by a review board the resort has been able to maintain a high level of design while maintaining the resort’s original theme.

McEntyre’s Tarn is a small subdivision being developed by the property arm of Millbrook. The brief was to design five homes with an average size of 200m2 over looking the green to the second hole. The design incorporates 3 bedrooms, study/TV room, open plan kitchen, dining and living with a strong focus on outdoor entertaining.

Homes are to be priced at a midpoint level for the resort, with a target market of existing apartment owners thinking of moving up or people not wanting the larger existing homes.

MAHURANGI FOREST ESTATE

PUHOI // NEW ZEALAND

Walker Urban design and landscapes undertook a report, in conjunction with other consultants, into the feasibility of creating a new town on a privately owned property . This was seen as an opportunity to utilise existing poor grade land to provide an eco friendly response to Auckland’s expansion needs with good links thanks to the proposed northern motorway. Our concept created one larger town along with a series of smaller villages and an eco focussed university. These were to be nestled within an extensive newly created forest reserve set up in three zones for the locals and visitors to make use of. These zones were Living and recreation, Education and research as well as ecological tourism.

CLIENT: ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL GROUP (NZ) LTD

PAKURANGA PARK VILLAGE

AUCKLAND CITY // NEW ZEALAND

The Pakuranga retirement village master plan was created to enable a 30-year vision for the client. Included 12 stages, some minor options within stages allowed for organised growth, and yet still flexible for potential market changes. We have now fully designed stage 1, a multi story apartment block, and are currently working on stage 2 - 8 level hospital and dementia unit.

The entire existing and proposed building for the extensive site has been drawn in CAD 3D; this enables the client and official residents within the retirement village to get an accurate and definite understanding of the various stages and how they influence their unique environment and the village as a whole.

The master plan encompasses a large central park as a focus where developments will eventually align.

CLIENT: REAL LIVING

CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL CONCEPT

CHRISTCHURCH // NEW ZEALAND

‘A Third Way’ is our proposition to leave the earthquakedamaged Christchurch cathedral as a preserved ruin and which would allow for a new purpose built cathedral to suit the modern requirements of the Anglican Church on another site. This option would add a valuable historical ruin to the few that exist today in New Zealand, as a raw and lasting reminder of the natural disaster that struck the heart of Christchurch.

THIRD WAY’

Part One - The Glowing Cross, allows people to experience the interior of the cathedral while remaining sympathetic to the history, significance and religious affiliations of the Anglican Church. A reinforced glass/acrylic enclosed passageway in the shape of a cross ascends from the subterranean in the square, up through the nave and to the altar – offering unprecedented views of the post-earthquake cathedral. This new structure would be designed to withstand earthquakes

‘A

and falling debris. The northern part of this cross is elongated to allow egress through the northern door out to the square. The glowing cross embodies the divinity of the church while remaining as a public amenity to be used for tourism, education and science. The new passageway hopes to not only reconnect the people with the cathedral but also to the square; allowing it to become the lively heart of the city that it formerly was.

Part two - Image of the Past, treats the cathedral more as a spectacle to view, rather than interactively experience. The glass passageway from the previous concept is not included. Instead, the western wall is completely glazed with a lattice of steel structure and glass; engraved with the facade details of the original western wall and porch. The interior of the cathedral will be well lit, with up-lights that silhouette the many columns, arches and stone detailing; displaying the glowing interior like a lantern in the night. 43

GOLD CLASS CINEMAS

AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: SKYCITY

NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIER CINEMA EXPERIENCE

G old Class cinemas offer operators the chance to attract a different clientele, usually in more intimate surroundings more in keeping with the mode of movies being screened.

The team at Walker Group Architects are passionate about design and pride themselves on the professionalism they bring to all aspects of their work. The field of cinema and entertainment is both fast growing and technically

challenging. It is crucial that any company involved in this area of design is well versed with these changes and developments. Walker Group Architects understands and recognises this need for innovative design. We are dedicated to being a world leader in this special field of architecture

IFLY AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND

CLIENT: SKYVENTURES & IFLY WORLD

A spectacular addition to one of Walkers early entertainment/retial complexes - an iFly.

Skyventures & iFLY world selected Walker Commercial Architects to facilitate this process in Auckland, New Zealand, because of their experience with tourism, retail and entertainment projects in the region as well as their ability to work successfully with multinational clients. The “clip on” addition provides a landmark for entertainment, the external rocket lift and glazed flying zone provides activity and a true entertainment factor to the centre of the city.

AIT MARAE

Marae have been part of the community scene and cultural focus of Maoridom for centuries.

This city based AIT Marae is prominently sited on the corner of St Paul’s and Wellesley Streets and faces directly onto Symonds Street. The desire to develop an AIT Marae grew over many years, and in 1994 a working party was convened consisting of AIT Maori groups and other stakeholders. As a result, a Marae that was appropriate for AIT purposes was completed soon after, with Walker Community Architects as project leaders.

The scope of the project comprised the Marae and courtyard development with lower level car parking, as well as all servicing requirements, and fencing and landscaping to create the sheltered environment required.

The project was successfully tendered and constructed during 1996 and 1997, and with the addition of traditionally carved barge boards, panels and posts produced by Maori craftsmen the building has become a significant feature of the campus and city.

AUCKLAND CITY // NEW ZEALAND

PARK MULTISPORTS AND MARAE COMPLEX

OTARA // NEW ZEALAND

A new master plan is being developed for the whole of Ngati Otara Park. Within the park are a group of community buildings including a Marae, kindergarten and a sports club. With an increase in community activity, the community leaders saw the need for an improvement in existing facilities for use by the greater South Auckland population.

Jointly with Ngati Otara Marae and Otara Multi Sports Committees, a brief was prepared to fully understand the needs and functions of the community. This includes various sports clubs who will be utilising the buildings with the view of developing a business plan which would generate income for both buildings for its upkeep.

AMANORA TOWN CENTRE

PUNE // INDIA

CLIENT: FUTURE GROUP

Amanora Town Centre awarded “ Best Shopping Mall” by The Confederation of Real Estate Developer’s Associations of India In 2012 for its “innovative and unique Structure as designed by Walker Group Architects keeping the character of Pune” Blurring the lines between entertainment and retail mall, the 8 screen multiplex is on the 3rd floor to one side of a spectacular atrium formed under a dome. On the same floor as the multiplex is typically a cafe court and restaurant bars which step down into a landscaped oasis.

A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATING A SUCCESSFUL MEETING OF RETAIL, ENTERTAINMENT AND OFFICE WITHIN AN INDOOR / OUTDOOR TOWN CENTRE MALL DEVELOPMENT. LOCATED IN PUNE, INDIA, THE SITE FRONTS ONTO MAGARPATTA ROAD AND SITS ADJACENT TO AMANORA PARK TOWN.

QUEENSTOWN GATEWAY 5 MILE

QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND

Entering the Franklin area of Queenstown from Cromwell and Alexandria on state highway 16, at the corner of Grants Road and next to the airport, is a new mall with the area’s first Countdown supermarket, realised as the first of two stages for a new retail and commercial centre of some 28,000 m2 for Queenstown.

A central on-level community parking area enclosed on three sides by a complex including four buildings with similar materials repeated in different ways and each provided with a different feel:

Building 1, on the east, is a two storey building with commercial and banking retail at ground level and firstfloor offices. With a giant pre cast pylon sign, it is gateway and entry to the site. Its facade on Grants Road is curtained in a large mesh sunshade wall perforated for light and signage and supported on exposed steel

CLIENT: REDWOOD GROUP

35 DOCKSIDE LANE

AUCKLAND CENTRAL, 1010

PO BOX 5319

WELLESLEY STREET, 1141

AUCKLAND

NEW ZEALAND

PHONE : +64 9 373 3828

www walkergrouparchitects com