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 MASTERPLAN
OREWA // 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.
WHITFORD HOUSING
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.
TANOA HOTEL
TANOA // SAMOA
CLIENT: PRIVATE CLIENT
The Tanoa Hotel project is reinforced by a proposed landscape connection to the Apia Waterfront. At present, the road leading to the site is barren and exposed, bordered by a concrete breakwater barrier and interspersed with a few large trees offering limited refuge and shade for visitors.
The waterfront connection is achieved by the increasing number of large shade trees along the journey, providing a designated pathway with solar lighting, seating, water figures, shelters, viewing decks and the introduction
of shade trees along the Port site frontage. The new streetscape extends the hotel’s landscape beyond its boundaries and enhances its visitor’s experience of Apia’s township.
The prominent trees along the road are the Flame Tree, Coral Tree and Indian Almond. Additional Flame Trees provide more shade canopy and a red flower display extends the avenue of red along Apia’s waterfront to Tanoa Hotel’s front door.
MAHURANGI FOREST ESTATE
PUHOI // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL GROUP (NZ) LTD
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.
BIRD PARK TAUPO
AMANORA TOWN CENTRE
A manora 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 eight 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.
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.
HISTORICAL PRECINCT TEMPLE
VIEW
TEMPLE VIEW // HAMILTON
CLIENT: LDS CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND
Concepts for a landscaped central community area, as part of the overall future Temple View development, incorporating existing historic buildings along with new buildings. With strong visual links back to, and from, the Temple there was great emphasis on the creation of a beautiful picturesque setting. The new buildings were required to be in sympathy with the existing historical buildings as well as be human in scale. Incorporating a man made lake with cafe, museum , community hall, library and outdoor amphitheater it was hoped to achieve a tranquility that reinforced community as well as peace and reflection.
NATADOLA RESORT
NATADOLA // FIJI ISLANDS
Acompetition scheme for a Fijian village to develop their ocean edge land for a new ‘tourist orientated’ retail centre with cultural focus and entertainment and using the disused sugarcane railway line for access.
Level One, 104 Fanshawe Street
Auckland Central, 1010
PO Box 5319
Victoria Street West , 1141
Auckland New Zealand
Phone : +64 9 373 3828
www walkergrouparchitects com
