walkerresidential architects relish with passion the challenge to realise the dreams of others,for living,relaxation, entertainment and contemplation,all manifest in a home which provides fine memories forever. Our experience includes the design and construction of many types of residence from ocean edge baches to affordable homes and from a country house to the exclusive lodge.
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 its origins as far back as 1932 when the first firm, Lewis Walker, was founded in Auckland, New Zealand. It consists of several business unit companies each, focussing on and delivering specialist architectural services across a wide range of project types including residential, urban design, community, commercial, cinema, and interior architecture disciplines.
Walkers have a long history of designing single and multi-residential projects and residential interiors. These range from luxury housing and apartments to large-scale developments and interior fit-outs.
We take a holistic team approach with an integrated, total building focus to create inspirational and environmentally sustainable solutions, concentrating on and meeting our client’s expectation through close collaboration is a 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 Pink House - Mission Bay
Templeton engaged Walkers to provide masterplanning and then full documentation for a 100 homes development. This sold rapidly off our presentation documentation, the concept was for low cost housing, several house type typologies, and provide a urban neighbourhood that would retain it’s long term value for investor purchasers.
For economy of construction great attention was made for repitition of details and builibility, especially for terrace houses. The Council urban review requested the main corner of the site to be 4 levels, so a small apartment complex was designed to home 9 apartments and create a strong urban corner element in the Stonefields landscape.
WHITFORD // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: PRIVATE
Whitford Village Green is a new type of residential subdivision in New Zealand. Architects have always like the idea of creating a village where they can consider the whole environment. Walkers were originally approached by the client after a visit to our award winning project in Wairakei.
The village concept was to be based of this design, but on a much grander scale. Like Wairakei Lodge where a courtyard is at the heart, Whitford Village has a large village green”a public park” we increased the density of dwellings around this park, to include a range of two level terrace houses and a few 3 level
apartment buildings, each wrapping around a small entry court. Besides Walkers designing all these higher density buildings for the village we are also designing each stand alone house for purchasers. This is a unique feature of this subdivision, where concept fees form part of the purchase price of the land. This ensure the village architecture is retained across the whole development and gives buyers confidence that their neighbours property will be of a similar quality and designed to privacy and outlook. Earthworks and services have commenced on site.
// NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: HOUSING NEW ZEALAND
Alarge Housing New Zealand development for 40 new residences with a central shared park which encompasses and provides connections to the sites existing natural formations.
20 residences are to be 3 and 4 bedroom stand alone or terraced residences on individual sections, under individual titles, accessed directly from the existing streets or from a new single shared driveway.
The developed residence typology comprises a simple readable street facing gable form with open glazed frontage for street permeability. Its wrap-over wall/ roof junction helps enhances its singular character with glazing cutaway like the gaps in the leafy foliage of a tree. Materials include metal cladding, timber reveals and fine metal glazing bars, natural colour toned to the existing and new basalt walls. Open treed front yard gardens front the streets and landscaped decks and rear landscape gardens open onto the central park.
NEW ZEALAND TALLEST APARTMENT TOWER
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: CORNERSTONE
Standing at over 140m high in total with 30 stories the Sentinel is New Zealand’s tallest all apartment building. Floor to ceiling glazing affords outstanding grandstand views of the Hauraki Gulf coastline North and East and Auckland City to the South. The simple square building shape has a highly efficient
served core, a simple cost effective structure and its scale permits a variety of different sized spacious quality apartments. Decks are punched in for protection from high winds and for clarity of form. Perimeter columns dominate spandrels and continue up to form the arched head of the Sentinel.
WINNER NZIA INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD 2005
AUCKLAND//NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: FRANCIS
With 300m2 decks overlooking Auckland’s harbour and city, this 500m2 multimillion dollar apartment atop the Metropolis tower in central Auckland City, is a sophisticated but practical, comfortable but spacious urban pad.
Meticulously designed and managed to the smallest detail, with all the latest wired and wireless technology in search of convenience from a single swipe, the apartment flexibly accommodates a single owner and his visiting family and friends and opens up to the changing panoramas around the building perimeter.
New sliding door suites, matching indoor and outdoor large plank timber floors, multiple inside and outdoor dining suites and indoor and outdoor fireplaces blur the inside from out and provide
advantage for using the decks in adverse weather conditions.
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
Amajor redevelopment and expansion project of the existing retirement home facilities on 30 acres of land is proposed for the Pakuranga Park Village off Fortunes Road, Pakuranga. A master plan has been developed with the client to include nine stages of building development around a large central ‘oasis’ park with gardens, fountains, flower beds and tree-scape lawns. Including to a new four level luxury apartment building, a new hospital, a specialist dementia unit, a medical centre with general retail, cafe and pharmacy, several 6-8 level retirement apartment buildings, a new community centre, pool complexes and supporting servicing/ storage/ parking amenities.
The sequencing of the construction stages is to accommodate the continuing operation of the Village, the retention of and consideration for the existing residences and roading infrastructure, the upkeep of the residents existing amenity and the creation of a new public access and entrance with traffic light controlled intersection on the Pakuranga highway.
The first stage is the beginning of a consenting process and negotiation with the local community to build up support for a more dense bulk of higher quality buildings in a traditional area of single level dwellings and community buildings.
The first stage building is the four level luxury apartment which is positioned opposite the existing three storey apartment block next to the current main entrance of Fortunes Road, to frame the entrance to the site. New tree and flower-bed planting border each side of the realigned entrance way to promenade the visitor down a future central park.
The building bulk is set back from the street and neighbours. It is separated from them by a substantial grassed lawn area with medium scale and large trees.
A large cobbled plaza links the new building with the existing across the new vehicle entrance, to slow the traffic and claim the space for the pedestrian and to offer a generous drop-off for the new building’s entry. Beyond and behind the building a ramp leads down to the basement with parking for the residents.
A large screen spans over the ground level pedestrian entry, catching and reflecting the sunlight and shadows, providing screen and enclosure for the building’s
glazed entrance and building’s atrium beyond.
A four level high ‘green’ wall fills the back of the entry atrium, inviting the visitor to look up to a glazed roof skylight. Wrapped around the atrium a walkway connects the lift and stairs to the apartment entries. Contrasting timber panel doors and framed glass side panel define entry and welcome the visitor. Apartments surround the atrium on three sides east, north and west and open out to large retiring decks to the sun, air and tree park.
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: PRIVATE CLIENT
Two existing small apartments on level 15 were converted into one home, a modern sophisticated and understated approach was taken, our in depth knowledge of the existing high rise tower enabled a cost effective refurbishment navigating the complex existing services and structure.
The apartment was designed, drawn and built in very short period, our choice and use of materials were also constrained to the existing lift size and the noise of use, as the building is fully occupied.
ORAKEI // AUCKLAND
Located on the western slope of Ngapipi Road looking back towards the city over Hobson Bay, this narrow site with dropping contours to the view led to a three level building platform for a four bedroom home with views from all levels across the bay to the city.
A Travertine feature wall cuts diagonally through the house to emphasise the site length and anchor the house to the site. The wall begins by forming the front on the garage, continues through the house, extending vertically through all three levels and lines through to the outdoor fire place. Materials are limited to concrete, stone, timber, glass and copper to provide a clean, uncluttered and low maintenance home, materials that would age well with the house.
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.
QUEENSTOWN // NEW ZEALAND
We participated in a design competition held by the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT), to design affordable housing for 44 Lots in the Shotover Country subdivision. Our scheme provided five main housing typologies that ranged between 1-2 levels and 2-3 bedrooms, with a focus on terrace housing. Within these main types, there are variations ranging from mirroring the floor plan, minor roof changes to materials and colours. Through this, we were able to achieve an integrated, balanced design while allowing suitable repetition to gain the cost benefits of scale. All of the designs followed the design criteria for ‘Home Star’ and ‘Life Mark’ standards. Which focus on energy efficient, healthy homes, designed for the needs of first home buyers through retires.
We progressed to the final two submissions, where unfortunately the design competition is abruptly cancelled. Due to the QLCHT losing government funding they were relying on for the subdivision infrastructure.
WHANGAPAROA PENINSULA // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: WILKINSON & DAVIES
D esigned in association with Robin Riley, Gulf Harbour is made up of sea side terraced and serviced apartments grouped around a marina on Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
Public entry at ground level is provided from a semi private concourse running between the buildings and the marina to the front also providing direct access from the apartments to the private marina berths, similar to the Cote D’Azur. Private vehicle access and double garaging is at the rear into a mixture of multilevel apartments or 2 level Penthouse apartments, serviced by lifts and stairs.
QUEENSTOWN//NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: MILLBROOK
M illbrook 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.
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT:PRIVATE
From the development of two large residential sites, the ‘leftover ‘ portions of both sites were available for the design of a 4 bedroom residence for the developer. Set back behind an existing bungalow on Shelly Beach Road, a main arterial road connection to the Auckland harbour bridge and motorway north, the site’s long north boundary affords full sun aspect and views at high level over the Waitemata harbour.
The new residence has a two storey west-east orientated main gable roof building with ground level living opening onto a north yard with pool and above 3 bedrooms with light filled sunny bathrooms and north facing ‘built-in’ balconies which have privacy and solar control provided by sliding louvered shutters. Attached to the south side of the main building is a two storey open glazed stairway and lobby connecting the main building to a secondary southern gable roofed building with garage at ground level and above a fourth bedroom and en suite bathroom. A narrow steep timber stair hidden behind a wall panel off the second floor landing leads up to a ‘ship’s bridge’ loft space with timber decking and room sized roof which electronically opens to provide uninterrupted views over the harbour. Clad in light coloured weatherboard and exposed rafters in respect to its residential neighbours, its neutral silver glazing and contrasting dark stained shutters, doors and roof trim add a sense of the stately to a home which appears small and cottage like but feels inside a spacious and airy home.
NZIA RESENE AWARD WAIKATO, 2004
NZIA RESENE NZ AWARD IN ARCHITECTURE, 2001
THE NZ MASTER BUILDERS AWARD AWARDS, 2004
WAIRAKEI // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: FRANCIS
A RETREAT FROM THE CITY APARTMENT.
This complex of buildings is designed as a retreat from the city apartment. It is intended for easy entertaining and can accommodate several guests, as well as retaining the residents’ personal space. An environment memorably different from city life is created.
The concept of this house is to create a collection of buildings that has developed over time to provide a protected outside courtyard. This central courtyard has an oak tree located on the key axis of the buildings which acts as both a link to the seasons and as a blurring of the line between architecture and nature.
The collection consists of four buildings; a red cedar structure as the shed, a stone building as the entry as well as an anchoring feature on the site, a modern glass and timber pavilion containing the living areas, and a black cedar guest wing. Creating a sense of establishment on the site has been crucial in the design.
SHANGHAI // CHINA
CLIENT: PRIVATE CLIENT
Our high quality apartment design was recommended to a multi billionaire businessman over dinner and our commission cemented upon his review of one of the more recent apartments where our attention to detail impressed. The client had already built a concrete mansion shell to an English / American classical theme and was looking for its completion and an interior ‘fitting out’ with an emphasis on quality. With some 150 rooms to appoint, a series of design stages were proposed and progressed with the client, from initial concept sketch options for some of the more major spaces, to complex elevations and plans coordinated throughout the home with a considered schedule of classical detail elements and finishes. Existing room configurations were re assessed and key elements revised to provide a better function and feel.
1/104 Fanshawe street
Auckland Central, 1010 PO Box 5319 Wellesley Street, 1141
Auckland New Zealand
Phone : +64 9 373 3828
WWW.WALKER.CO.NZ
WWW.WALKERHOMEDESIGN.CO.NZ
