Walker Malls Retail

CASE STUDIES

WALL STREET SHOPPING MALL

Dunedin, New Zealand

2012

Dunedin’s new Wall Street shopping mall connects George St, Filleul and St Andrews Streets historic city’s George St. shopping precinct as well as connecting the two other shopping centres making up the city’s main retail block. The development combines both street-front retail and shopping on the lower level of the atrium internal “street”. Offce space and car parking make up the balance of the 3 foors.

The concept was to create a series of lanes and courtyards to provide continuity within the city’s shopping district, with shelter from Dunedin’s variable weather. The complex comprised a series of different buildings - one traditional and two modern, which would suit Dunedin’s existing scale of architecture better than a large, conventional shopping mall.

The main atrium space initially narrows as you enter from George St, so that a sense of expectation is built up before it widens to a generous internal courtyard, capped by a glass roof. The intention was to provide a space which appears to have existed between two buildings for years, rather than a suburban-style shopping mall imposed on the city. The atrium space includes shops, a café, food tenancies, a sunken seating/dining area, landscaping and circulation to upper foors.

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 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.

CASE STUDIES

WESTFIELD 277

Auckland, New Zealand

Current

Studio Gascoigne prepared the full design concept for Westfeld’s upcoming refurbishment and extension of their 277 Flagship shopping centre. This will be New Zealand’s only “Black Label” mall which will feature a very high level of design, ftout and customer services. We worked closely on this project with Westfeld’s in-house design and architectural team who will complete the construction documentation in Sydney.

WALL STREET SHOPPING MALL

NIRMAL LIFESTYLE MALL

The Nirmal Lifestyle Shopping Mall is inspired from traditional Indian art and colour. The introduction of vibrant colours, activity and information by the use of lights, displays and the use of modern day technology showcasing advertisements, sports events and entertainment, enhances the aesthetics of the mall

interior as a whole whilst complimenting the colours of retail shop fronts and signage. The festive design elements incorporated into the mall interior is to portray modernism and youthfulness of Indian society and culture of today.

CASE STUDIES

TRELISE COOPER

Wellington 2017

The clients aim was to re-launch their presence in Wellington with a new fagship concept which would include elements that could also be used in future locations.

The challenge of working with a world-famous fashion designer is to support but not overpower the fashions displayed, nor to follow one architectural style. Studio Gascoigne’s intent was to combine elements of Trelises’s eclectic, colourful and detailed style into an environment neutral enough to adapt to a variety of clothes, seasons and events.

Customer experience was paramount in the design, from the welcoming entry to the comfortable ftting rooms and joy of the velvet swing. Details are especially important to Trelise so the materiality is more complex than a typically minimal contemporary fashion store. The resulting experience has been very well received by client and customers.

Studio Gascoigne won the Red Awards Apparel Division with this project.

CASE STUDIES

HALLENSTEINS & GLASSONS LAMBTON QUAY

Wellington, New Zealand 2014

1336 SQM

During our 20 year association with New Zealand’s leading fashion chains Hallensteins and Glassons we have helped them to reinvent their brands a number of times. This last iteration was a complete rethink of the ft-outs of both labels right down to the logos and signage. It’s not that the previous retail formats (shown elsewhere in this presentation) were unsuccessful, in fact it was just the opposite helping the brand to achieve a increased revenue off of over 26% per quarter. It’s just that it was time to move the brands even further ahead of the competition. As proof of this another New Zealand fashion brand was actually doing almost exact copies of the Glassons ft-out and having them made in China!

The new fagship store marks a complete departure from previous ft-outs in a number of ways: this is the frst time that both brands have been housed within one space, albeit on separate levels. Is also the largest store has so far produced at around 1336 square metres. The look is pared back, minimal, industrial and edgy in keeping with the demands of its target market.

The building itself, formerly Whitcoulls, is a historic building which posed many challenges including requiring a full seismic upgrade. Although most of the interior’s historic features were lost due to the extensive structural work required we tried to retain a semblance of the original hundred year-old building within the new ft-out. We added brick, pressed metal ceilings and old wood to make the space look like it had simply stripped back to its original bones then just let the merchandise, VM and huge video walls speak for themselves. As usual time and budget were extremely tight.

CASE STUDIES

OKO RESTAURANT

Auckland, New Zealand

2015

125 SQM

Oko Dessert Kitchen is a restaurant specialising in high-end, individually prepared desserts and a range of patisserie products and beverages, all prepared on site. It also sells Mövenpick Ice Cream.

The interior was designed to incorporate a clean but modern and functional aesthetic that would be up-market enough to refect the premium-priced dessert offering yet not so grand as to discourage casual coffee and ice cream customers. White Carrara marble hints at the traditional French patisserie or an Italian gelato shop. Gold accents and strong-tile and timber also round out the traditional material palette but a clean use of lines and forms points to the very modern and stylish nature of the desserts created.

Overall the interior is designed to hint at both traditional and modernity without being able to be pigeon-holed as a cafe, patisserie or regular full-service restaurant. Forms and mirrors are used to break-up a tight and diffcult space. We believe that the fnal result refects the unique nature and personality of our client’s product offer.

CASE STUDIES

ICEBREAKER

Auckland, New Zealand

2018

Icebreaker’s new fagship store is located in the International terminal at Auckland Airport. This particular store is aimed directly at departing tourists and serves to not only to showcase latest icebreaker product but also to do this in the context of a very New Zealand environment that also showcases Icebreakers latest of New Zealand.

Materials are all natural: New Zealand pine or ply for fxtures and ceiling beams, natural timber foor, semi-random stone tiles to replicate South Island schist and real barn wood, sourced from Canada. Walls are painted in cementitious paint while the back wall is clad and in real New Zealand moss. The shopfront is also deliberately barn-like and open to allow customers to easily fall into the otherwise narrow store.

The aim is that the shopping environment will be interesting, memorable and evocative if New Zealand’s unique environment, so that customers will seek the brand out in their local markets or by shopping online. As such the store is as much a billboard for New Zealand as it is a retail outlet and, from the sales and customer feedback points of view, it is working very well.

Studio Gascoigne received the Red Awards 2018 Brand Implementation Excellence award for this project.

CASE STUDIES

COCORO - PONSONBY

Auckland, New Zealand

2011

Cocoro was commissioned by former Soto chef Makoto Tokuyama as a showcase for his distinctive and very natural take on modern Japanese food.

The décor includes a subtle tatami-style matting, sandblasted concrete ceilings, macrocarpa slats and a large dining table in the middle of the room where customers can dine side-byside.

All of the selected materials are natural and recyclable. The result is a space that has a contemporary Japanese feel and compliments the degustation and tapas style menu with its simplicity.

Cocoro featured on international interior design websites Dezeen and WAN, along with being recognised in the Interior Architecture category winning an Auckland Architecture Award at the 2011 New Zealand Architecture Awards (NZIA) and Gold at the 2011 Best Awards in the hospitality category as well as the Restaurants & Bars Division, Nourishment Group and Sponsor Shopfront Awards at the 2011 NZRIA RED awards. Images by Patrick Reynolds and sketches by Wallace Ong.

CASE STUDIES

TELECOM NATIONAL REBRAND & ROLLOUT

New Zealand

2012

We offer this project as an example of our ability to design, coordinate and manage the implementation of multiple building sites, disciplines and contractors within a tight time frame and budget. This is just one of around 40 national or international roll-outs we have designed.

Studio Gascoigne was commissioned to reposition and design Telecom’s retail stores nationally we also won the tender to rebrand all Telecom stores. The chain is comprised of a number of separate retail models each serving a different part of the market:

“Flagship Stores” Key sites designed to promote the brand by positioning Telecom as an international best practice retailer and service provider.

“Super –Stores” Telecom-owned full service retail stores and service providers located in key shopping malls.

“Dealer Store” Franchise stores located in shopping streets and smaller malls offering a similar retail image but at a much lower ft-out budget.

Kiosks Stand-alone retail formats located in shopping malls focussing on Telecom’s mobile phone offer.

“MMR” Mass-market retail. Standard store-within-a-store sites located within other retailer’s premises.

We worked closely with the Telecom retail team and their branding and advertising agencies design works and Saatchi & Saatchi. We collaborated on ideas with both agencies and handled, the nation-wide implementation of Telecom’s new brand livery and signage as well as the retail transformation project.

CALIPRESS - GRAHAM STREET

CASE STUDIES

CALIPRESS - GRAHAM STREET

Auckland, New Zealand

2018

Cali Press, (short for “California Pressed” juice) is an Australian juicer and cafe concept originating from Melbourne. Our clients acquired the New Zealand rights for the brand and, after setting up a small juice factory, needed to establish a retail outlet for their products. Their frst site was in Graham Street in central Auckland. They proposed to create a new design concept for this which would refect, not only elements from the Australian ft-out, but also the very simple and pure nature of the products they offered as well as convey the mood of California and its emergent health-focussed cuisine and lifestyle.

We set about designing the interior, which is quite a tight space given the amount of room needed for food storage and prep. We came out with a simple plan which uses essentially one long stainless steel prep bench (with most of the equipment and much of the storage under it), and a white service bench. The palette is very simple: blonded wooden foor, plywood, walls and joinery, foor white tiles, white laminate cupboards, black steel detailing and stainless steel equipment and workbenches. Decoration is by way of a Californian palm-tree mural that we had custom painted on the back wall and some simple signage. Seating is limited but is mainly to a bench seat running down the left side and some spaces in the window area, mainly for customers waiting to pick up their take-out orders.

The result is very simple, functional and very cost-effective one but, we believe, that it refects the essence of the Californian simple and healthy lifestyle. Customers love it and the business has taken off with a second site we designed in Parnell now open with another one planned.

CALIPRESS - PARNELL

CASE STUDIES

CALIPRESS - PARNELL

Auckland, New Zealand

2018

80 SQM

Cali Press, (short for “California Pressed” juice) is an Australian juicer and cafe concept originating from Melbourne. Our clients acquired the New Zealand rights for the brand and, after setting up a small juice factory, needed to establish a retail outlet for their products.

CASE STUDIES

TE HIHI ESTATE

Auckland, New Zealand 2008

Te Hihi Estate offers the elite standard for guests desiring the ultimate in luxurious, retreat accommodation. Offering 92 acres of thoughtfully designed grounds and immaculately maintained facilities, the estate provides total peace and tranquility in a delightfully secluded setting.

Situated only thirty minutes from Auckland Airport, Te Hihi Estate is easily accessible for both international and domestic guests. The estate’s location provides both a gateway to those wishing to sample Auckland’s world-class dining and entertainment culture, and for our guests seeking a peaceful retreat.

The exquisite Te Hihi villa boasts six beautifully designed bedrooms and fve deluxe bathrooms.

CASE STUDIES

COMVITA FLAGSHIP

Auckland, New Zealand

2013

70 SQM

Comvita is a hugely successful but little known New Zealand export brand with around 480 retail outlets, mainly in Asia. Their products include natural health and beauty products mainly formulated from honey and olive leaf. (They own the world’s largest olive plantation located in Australia.) This prototype fagship was conceived to serve as a model for on-going – mainly international – rollouts. It was designed to refect Comvita’s simple and natural approach, tell their storey and promote its new face and beauty products primarily to its target Asian market.

CASE STUDIES

COMVITA AIAL

Auckland International Airport, New Zealand

2014

45 SQM

Comvita wanted to create a ”temporary” kiosk format to be trialed in Auckland International Airport, aiming specifcally at the Asian health product market. The design had to be modular and refect the brand’s bee-products heritage. A wide variety of merchandise and graphics had to be displayed. The 25m2 site itself was very challenging with poor site lines, a ceiling that couldn’t be modifed and the need to lock up products after trading hours without any form of shutters or shop-front. The budget was (around $50,000) also very limited.

The kiosk, which is more like a “pop-up” market stall. We deliberately blurred the tenancy boundaries in order to encourage customers to walk through the store without feeling trapped. We created a series of units that resembled beehives and installed these in a random-appearing way to make an interesting browsing experience. Displays were hinged so they lock against each other for security after hours. To attract attention we used a number of light-boxes displaying the brand story that can be read from all angles at a distance.

Faux “weather-aged” timber is used for fooring and counter tops to foster an authentic feel. The various joinery units are also reconfgurable so they can be used at other sites. Lighting “foats” below the existing ceiling, which allows it to be otherwise unmodifed.

The kiosk is deliberately different to anything else at the airport. It is meant to be eye-catching in a diffcult to see location and quirky enough to draw attention. It also facilitates the telling of the Comvita story. The design seeks to break the mould of a typically mono-chromatic, sterile looking health and beauty offer.

CASE STUDIES

ALLPRESS PONSONBY

Auckland, New Zealand

2009

54 SQM

Studio Gascoigne prepared the concept design and carried out detailed design for Allpress Coffee’s “Biscotto” pilot store in Ponsonby Road. This small space is used as a mini-fagship for the Allpress brand on Auckland’s premier café strip where it already supplies most of the leading cafes. The idea was not to compete in terms of a sit-down dining experience but instead to promote the brand’s take-home coffee bean and experimental biscuit product.

CASE STUDIES

HALLENSTEINS QUEEN STREET

Auckland, New Zealand

2015

522 SQM

Hallensteins, Queen Street fagship store advances their current ft-out model. The site is Hallensteins biggest store at 522m2 and is housed in the historic Lewis Eady building (formerly Supré). It retains remnants of the original interior and existing building elements. Our client didn’t want a complete departure from their current ft-out model but were keen to retain and expose as much as possible of the “raw” building shell as a backdrop to their merchandise. All without alienating their mass-market fashion customer by becoming an unapproachable boutique..

We tried to capitalise on the unique character of the existing building by taking a very pared-back approach to allow its newly-exposed textures come forward while forming a backdrop to the merchandise. This was very diffcult as much of the original interior had been lost during previous structural works. Even the shopfront had earlier been removed. We replicated some of the frontage’s geometry and previously destroyed features, such as the column grid and steel joinery. We decided to simply expose everything and not refnish any original surfaces so as to celebrate the innate character of the building and its proud past.

We believe the result is innovative, in that it has taken a massmarket retail format to a new level without appearing too upmarket (which would have alienated the target market). The budget was tight with structural, fre, heritage and services challenges, however the interior has a huge customer appeal that bridges the gap between mass-market and hard-edged urban retail. Original elements of the historic original building were brought back into view while meeting the tough heritage regulations. Overall we believe that the resulting interior is a fun and stimulating place in keeping with our city’s emerging vibrant urban retail culture.

CASE STUDIES

GLASSONS FLAGSHIP

Queenstreet, Auckland, New Zealand

2013

332 SQM

This store was extended and revamped into a fagship concept and now incorporates many unique details and special features which subdivide the 57m long space into different zones or ‘rooms’.

The customer experiences the various spaces as if they’re walking through a grand villa, from the spacious Salon at the front of the house, to The Library towards the centre before arriving at The Conservatory toward the rear.

This features an iPad interactive area, a ‘green’ wall of pot plants, a central catwalk and tall glass pivot doors leading into a luxurious ftting room area. Innovative use of architectural features such as corbels and ceiling roses are used to create display zones and support merchandise.

This is Glassons’ second fagship store (after Broadway) and was conceived to re-invent New Zealand’s biggest fashion brand, by far, by attracting younger, more fashion-conscious customers. It has been an outstanding success in this regard with signifcant sales increases over the old format

The store is fnalist for the 2012 BeST Awards, ended ad fnalist at the 2012 Interior Awards and won the 2012 Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior – Public + Retail Award.

HALONG BAY - AIA AIRSIDE

CASE STUDIES

Auckland International Airport, New Zealand

2018

90 SQM

HALONG BAY VIETNAMESE KITCHEN - AIRSIDE

CASE STUDIES

HONDA

Auckland, New Zealand

2018

When Honda New Zealand Chief Executive Nobu Sonoda approached us to re-design their fagship branch in Newmarket his main criteria was the customer’s frst impression was that it should look like that of a fve-star hotel. His reasons for this were that a Honda customer welcome should be second to none so as to refect the respective the brand has for its customers.

The brief was to reconfgure the existing reception area to also house a service reception facility, which was a relocated from downstairs, and to add a new reception to cater for Honda’s New Zealand’s head offce which is also on this site. The other major part of the work was to create a customer lounge in which customers could wait to pick up cars, or just hang out in the type of club lounge situation. There is also a small work space in which customers can work while their cars are being serviced. The showroom also features a museum area to showcase the proud history of Honda.

Customer reaction has been even better than management hoped for, with customers helping praise on the new facilities and the improved sales and service experiences. This is had a very positive effect on the branches’ turnover and several similar refts planned to carry this model throughout the country.

NUMBER ONE SHOES

CASE STUDIES

NUMBER ONE SHOES

St-Lukes, Auckland, New Zealand

2014

1343 SQM

New Zealand’s largest footwear retailer wanted a retail makeover to demonstrate its shifting focus toward higher quality and more fashion-orientated product in order to win new customers and to increase the average sale. Their brief (and budget) did not allow for a full re-ft however.

We designed a mainly “pop-up” ftout model suitable for off-site mass production and easy roll-out. This consisted of a simple “Kit-of-Parts” mainly comprised of graphics and fxturing. This included a modular steel-frame system to hold merchandise or graphics, and various ply-wood display units. Pine “huts” anchor the various departments and draw attention to them. The concept was to create a market-like atmosphere in certain areas of the store to high-light featured product as well as visually breaking the store up. We also introduced a whole new graphic, signage and visual-merchandising system including a faux green wall. The concrete foor was exposed and polished in the “power aisle” area.

We have created an interesting shopping environment for the very large percentage of New Zealand customers who can’t afford boutique shopping. We believe that the “plug-in” transformation of the shop is unique for a mass rollout in New Zealand. The public clearly think so too, with sales up by many times more than our clients had budgeted for.

CASE STUDIES

THE COSMETIC STORE

Auckland CBD, New Zealand

2016

93 SQM

The Cosmetic Store as a start-up concept jointly owned by three women who are targeting the Asian market based in Auckland’s CBD. They directly import cosmetics from Japan, China and Korea to cater for a growing market of Asian women looking for cosmetics to suit their particular skin tones, as well as Kiwi women looking for an alternative range of wellpriced cosmetics.

The clients wanted a central location but their budget for rental was very limited so after looking at a number of sites in and around Auckland’s Queen St they settled on a frst foor site in Victoria Street. The premises has some windows facing onto Victoria Street but these are at a high level above another shop and so are not very visible. The only access is the steep staircase, which provides only limited visibility into the shop. To keep the budget to a minimum and we used colour and graphics in this stairwell as a feature in order to attract attention and draw people into the shop. We looked at quite a number of colour schemes and graphic concepts before eventually settling on Resene XXX as a current and exciting colour but one, which would tone well with the packaging and graphics.

The rest of the interior is quite neutral with a grey foor vinyl wood-plank foor, which was provided by the landlord to our colour specifcation, with white ceiling and walls. In addition to the coloured entrance area we created a seating and make up trial area which is also in the feature colour. The balance of the ft-out is in either white or neutral wood tones to serve as a backdrop for the wide variety of product colours.

HAYAMA - DOMESTIC

CASE STUDIES

HAYAMA - DOMESTIC AIRPORT LANDSIDE

Auckland, New Zealand

2018

44 SQM

Our clients brief was to refurbish the Hayama’s existing frontof- house and shopfront and to bring it in-line with their new brand identity making it more visible and exciting. We needed to present a distinctive look that refected Japanese cuisine but with a modern twist in order to offer a distinct point of difference from the adjacent fast food offers.

We redesigned the service counter, moving it further back from the lease line and included two central on-bench sushi displays. This is mainly for take-out consumption, however, in addition, we provided 5x fxed seats for customers to enjoy the fresh products at the counter which also activates this area making it more visible. Existing cladding to the front-ofhouse columns and the bulk-head were also replaced with an updated design approach to compliment our client’s latest brand identity (also developed by us). We developed the “Cherry Tree” graphic from some stock images as a prompt to the Japanese cuisine. We overlaid and illuminated a bulkhead over the counter top to make our corner site more visible and to light the working surface below.

As we had no access to the site for installing any steel beams and were not permitted to suspend the bulkhead from the ceiling, this had to be constructed in a number of timber sections and supported with posts from below. Light-boxes were also prefabricated offsite and attached to concealed timber columns. Working hours and noise are very severely restricted at the airport so most of the renovation was prefabricated off-site. We believe that the result achieves a distinctive take on the traditional sushi restaurant which refects the simple and natural nature of the food offered. It provides a real alternative to other fast food outlets as is now highly visible. The project came in on time and on budget.

HAYAMA SUSHI BAR - TAKE AWAY

CASE STUDIES

HAYAMA SUSHI BAR & TAKE AWAY

Auckland International Airport, New Zealand

2015

26 SQM

After the successful launch of a kiosk at Auckland International Airport’s departures area (“Air-side”), our clients leased space in the arrivals area (“Land-side”) to cater for inbound passengers and those waiting for them. The 23m2 site comprises a diffcult, asymmetric foor plate which has a wide (6.9m) frontage but shallow front to back (3.3m). There are a number of structural members and part of an existing entry door portal that protrude into the back of the tenancy making the site diffcult to use. The back wall of the tenancy is glass with various structural trusses, pipes and switch-boards protruding. Access to services was also very limited and the high ceiling was not able to be used for lighting, services, or the suspension of any structure. The clients required a distinctive look that refected Japanese cuisine but with a modern twist in order to offer a distinct point of difference from the adjacent fast food offers which include McDonald’s and Dunkin’Donuts.

We designed a modern take on traditional Japanese architecture which was built and clad in wood so was able to be prefabricated off-site due to the limited access to site for construction. Airport regulations only permit a 4 hour construction window daily for site work from midnight till 4 AM, including load-in, equipment set-up and breakdown. This equated to an actual build time on site of around 40 hours. We had to allow for only limited on-site cooking as there was no provision for wwkitchen extract.

We believe that the result achieves a distinctive take on the traditional sushi restaurant which refects the simple and natural nature of the food sold. It provides a real alternative to other fast food outlets.

HAYAMA SUSHI KIOSK - LANDSIDE

HAYAMA SUSHI BAR - AIA AIRSIDE

CASE STUDIES

KIWI DISCOVERY

Auckland, New Zealand

2018

When we received the brief for Kiwi Discovery’s new tourist and souvenir shop in the refurbished Auckland International Airport terminal it sounded like a fun project to showcase a wide variety of New Zealand products and memories to departing tourists. When we set about the design challenge however, it was trickier than we thought!

The wedge-shaped tenancy had to house a huge number of completely different products, which range from the very small, e.g. keyrings up to large sheepskin duvets. Many of these items come with mismatching proprietary stands and nearly all contain small writing which makes them very hard to identify at a distance.

The brief called for a neutral palette to compliment the back and white logo, appeal to a largely Asian clientele and not compete with the multi-coloured packaging. Signage had to be explicit to cater for (often hurried) non-English speaking customers. Racking had to be very multi-functional so that most product categories could be displayed anywhere in the store.

We keep the palate reasonably simple so it wouldn’t clash with the (largely colourful) packaging on display. This fnishes pallet consists of white and timber joinery, black framing elements, soft green to the walls timber-look fooring and plenty of graphics. We also drew attention to the counter with some hanging plants and pendant lights.

The result, we believe, is both an inviting and functional one that avoids the cluttered appearance that most souvenir stores have. More importantly it is been very well received by customers and turnover has been strong.

AIR NEW ZEALAND “THE CLOTHES HANGAR”

CASE STUDIES

AIR NEW ZEALAND

“THE CLOTHES HANGAR”

Auckland, New Zealand 2011

80 SQM

Air New Zealand’s ‘Clothes Hangar’ is the new head to toe styling and grooming experience for Air New Zealand staff that embodies the new uniform and brand design direction with a nod to the swept-up eclectic kiwi bach.

It is located amongst industrial warehouses and on entry offers an unexpectedly fresh and white ‘shop’. Walls of ‘V’ grooved panelling and foors of washed oak laminate provide the perfect backdrop to the blue tube racking which threads it’s way around the ‘shop’ and the ftting rooms. The counter area is a bright pink counter with ‘graffti’ print wallpaper and on leaving, staff are asked to write comments about their experience on coloured post-it notes which are then stuck to the entry lobby walls.

The ‘Clothes Hangar’ won Gold at the 2011 Best Awards in the Offce and Workplace Environment category and featured in Dezeen plus many other highly regarded international interior design websites, books and publications.

CASE STUDIES

REDCURRENT

Wellington, New Zealand

2012

Redcurrent’s sumptuous new ftout is set in a warehouse space in Wellington. The brief was to provide backdrops of features to showcase the exquisite treats and treasures on display… bringing the brand into the next decade.

Inspiration for our scheme … “Redcurrent is your chance to dream. Daydream in vivid colour … with fragrances and treats for people you most treasure. Welcome!”

A long entry ramp was our biggest challenge was to get customers to enter! Strong colour turns heads with an irresistible glimpse into Redcurrents world.

We showcase of the treasures within a series of dramatic spaces, using rich and enticing hues of gem-like pink. Colour and materials are inspired by the Redcurrent brand. Alluring pinks were used to add a sense of vibrancy, fun and youthfulness, whilst appealing to a wide range of ages.

The shopfront windows glow day and night with a Hexaben honeycomb screen in translucent alluring pinks, and neon signage logo and blade sign. The dramatic entry wall of pinkon-pink stripes over mouldings, with traditional veranda post and balustrades bring some quirks to this heritage detailing. Our client tells us that turnover has increased signifcantly, and customers are stopping in their tracks to enter.

CASE STUDIES

HOTEL DE BRETT

CBD, Auckland, New Zealand

2009

The iconic Hotel DeBrett has been stylishly re-interpreted into a 25-room boutique hotel, with every room individually designed and complimented with eclectic furniture, New Zealand art and photography.

Studio Gascoigne collaborated on the concept with client Michelle Deery and Mitchinson Simiona Architects, who completed project and documentation for the exterior design, while we handled design of the atrium space and lighting as well as upgrading the ground foor to suit the need of boutique retail. The interior spaces were done in collaboration with Martin Hughes Interior Architects.

The Hotel won the 2009 NZIA Auckland Architecture Award (Heritage Category), Bronze at the 2009 DINZ Best Awards in the Hospitality category and was Division Winner at the 2010 NZRIA RED Awards. It also made it onto the World Architecture News Retail Interiors Award (a leading European design competition) ‘long list’ in the Hotel category.

CASE STUDIES

NOSH

Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand 2010

Nosh Mt Eden is part of the expanding boutique supermarket chain and inhabits 825 square metre of an old furniture store on Dominion Rd.

Nosh aims to undercut supermarket food prices while delivering the freshest ingredients possible. This notion in mind, we created a very minimalist interior consisting of concrete foor and benches, exposed ceiling and very industrial fxturing, showing off the product to its best without undue fuss.

Personality is introduced in the way of white tiles, timber accents and the Nosh signature black walls, which double as ‘specials’ black-boards.. The roll-out continues with 4 additional sites currently planned.

Nosh won Bronze at the 2010 Best awards.

CASE STUDIES

CARPET COURT

Albany, Auckland, New Zealand

2015

300 SQM

Carpet Court Albany is a pilot store for a new type of home furnishings store. Our client stated: “I don’t want to change a shop, want to change an industry”. Typically, carpet stores tend to be very bland, functional environments dominated by mismatching manufactures stands and similar grey carpet samples.

Market research told us that carpet customers are primarily looking for colour and inspiration. We wanted an “active” space where customers could mix and match a variety of fooring and fabric types create a full colour story for their homes. We frst made most samples into the same size (approx. A2) so various products could be inter-mixed with colourboards, room shots and messages. We rejected the typical carpet “venetian” tiered displays in favour of a basket-weave of “Music Stand” sample holders to allow samples to be easily compared, moved or replaced.

The resulting “Pods” can display any of Carpet Court’s products: carpet, vinyl, laminate, tiles, curtains or blinds. These Pods are easily moved and individually lit to allow for easy and quick ftout or reconfguration of stores. In additional the “Colour Wall” is a curved display designed to give customers an inspiring overview of the colour range. Carpet and hardfooring samples are displayed as large “Master Pieces” on the foor, allowing customers to walk on each sample. In-situ views of a variety of products are shown on multiple hanging banners which also help customers navigate the store while activating the 4m of space above the touchable samples.

The counter area is deliberately low key and neutral with its face decorated in leftover cardboard carpet-roll cores. The overall result is an interior which is more inspirational than the industry norm while striving not to be too boutique in a retail sector which is very price sensitive.

CASE STUDIES

KAPITI STORE

Auckland, New Zealand

2012

60 SQM

Parent brand Fonterra commissioned Studio Gascoigne to design a one off concept store in Auckland CBD (Shortland St) to showcase its cheese and ice cream ranges. This initiative was driven by Fonterra’s marketing department to build brand awareness of their speciality/high end product in the restaurant and catering market, as well as high net-worth individuals. The store also acts as a hosting venue for Fonterra’s larger national and international clients. Images supplied in this presentation.

The store won the Supreme Award as well as the Convenience Stores Division and Nourishment Group at the 2012 Red Awards and is currently fnalist at the 2012 BeST Awards.

CASE STUDIES

LOTTO NEW ZEALAND FLAGSHIP

St-Lukes, Auckland, New Zealand

2015

89 SQM

Studio Gascoigne won a credentials pitch to design Lotto New Zealand ‘s frst fagship store. Our initial role was to workshop with the clients to identify the experience of buying a Lotto ticket. The brief also included the implementation of the Lotto’s new logo & graphic chart developed by Interbrand of New York.

We developed a concept of “dreams sold here” and created a whole new selling experience which has now been prototyped in a St-Lukes Flagship branch and a suburban dairy site in preparation for a rollout to Lotto’s 1400 (approx) shops nation wide.

SILK ROAD - AIA LANDSIDE

CASE STUDIES

UN, DEUX, TROIS

CASE STUDIES

UN DEUX TROIS

Auckland, New Zealand

2015

162 SQM

Un Deux Trois is a new retail furniture and homewares store housed in the historic Le Quesne’s Pharmacy building (and its additions) in Ponsonby’s Jervois Road. We collaborated with our clients to create an interior in keeping with the eclectic and residential nature of their products. Merchandise is grouped into “rooms” ftted around the column grid and level changes. The resulting textured and colourful background against which ever-changing room-sets can be “dressed”.

The 162m2 retail space, was in very poor condition. The original foor had been largely removed and over-clad with particleboard. Most existing walls had been lined over with GIB board. The whole building sagged so parts of it fell by 300mm relative to others. Fire and soundproofng were nonexistent.

We removed the more recent linings to expose the remaining original pressed-metal linings which were restored and repainted. A wallpaper, in a similar pattern, was used behind the counter which doubles as a coffee area. A mural of plants was commissioned to decorate non-original GIB wall. Most of the original ceiling had to be fre and noise rated although some pressed metal was able to be retained. New LED lighting was installed and the tenancy was painted.

The non-original shopfront was over-clad with a new timber façade inspired by traditional French shopfronts typical of Paris’s Le Marais District. A distinctive dark blue colour makes window displays to “pop”.

We also worked closely with our clients on colours choice, layout and visual merchandising so that the interior would become both distinctive and traditional as a backdrop to their wide range of merchandise. We believe that the space is unique and stylish without falling into any particular style of interior so it should age well and appeal to a wide audience.

WILD PAIR

CASE STUDIES

WILD PAIR

Auckland, New Zealand

2015

89 SQM

As Wild Pair has now passed its 21st birthday we and our client decided it was time for the brand to grow-up. Since we frst started designing the chain in 1993 we have tried to keep it evolving but the latest intention was to create a more mature aesthetic than the “raw” look that has, so far, predominated.

The almost square 149m2, corner site, in the 277fashion precinct, offered good visibility but very limited wall space. To accommodate the necessary stock capacity we used the 2 large window areas as both internal and external displays but sought to break this up with a number of simple pine pigeon-holes which both support and group various product categories while illuminating them with LED lighting. Pigeonholes also help decorate the upper wall areas of the 4m high space.

The aim was to keep the interior decoration low-key and neutral as a soft backdrop to the merchandise. To achieve this we used a mixture of off-white painted surfaces, concrete foors and cedar ship-lap lining which was painted with white undercoat and then hand-sanded back to a “worn” fnish. This fnish was also applied to the entry portal which hides columns and the roller door support structure. The equally textured pendant lights over the courter are genuine antique items converted to use modern light-sources.

Decorations are deliberately restrained. These include various framed posters and the hand-painted and deliberately “worn” versions of the Wild Pair logo behind the counter. Fixtures are also minimal being a mixture of clear powder-coated steel and pine ply.

CASE STUDIES

CENTURY PLAZA

Auckland, New Zealand

URBAN PLANNING

Century Plaza is an open-air retail development to be situated immediately across Auckland’s southern motorway from Sylvia Park shopping centre. It is designed to house large and medium format retail stores around a central car park along. Service access is provided to the rear. The centre will be anchored by a 1,595m2 tenancy, possibly a small supermarket, with a 2 freestanding restaurant tenancies adjacent to the southern entry.

The aim is to create an easily visible presence so that customers are attracted from the motorway. A number of light and signage features are designed to increase visibly including a row of lighted columns which will change colour sequentially.

In keeping with the centre’s relaxed feel and mid-market pitch we have made use of timber and ground concreteblock accents, along with liberal planting to make for a more approachable “feel” then the more formal Sylvia Park development and more friendly than the other bulk retail located nearby.

The use of planted signage frames will soften the precinct and allow easy visibility of the store brands as customers drive past. These also help to hide the simple, corrugated iron structures that we are make up the main buildings. Textured concrete paving with timber accents help to dress the footpaths at minimal cost.

The tenancy layout is designed for easy variation of tenancy sizes and layouts to aid leasing and future proof the development.

CASE STUDIES

HUE

Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand

2008

119 SQM

Hue Mt Eden was the pilot store for the brand and Hue Ponsonby the third example of Hue hair colouring salons.

The service offer is very different from a typical cut and colour hair salon, while still appearing professional with a degree of warmth and ‘edginess’ that was appealing to a reasonably wide market. We developed a completely different function model where the customers sit either in the “Colour Lounge” or at the “Colour Table” and the colourists come to them. Customers are encouraged to interact with staff and other clients rather than sit alone facing a wall.

As the chain will be rolled out to a number of different sites, the interior was designed as a series of pre-fabricated units to suit a variety of spaces.

Hue Mt Eden was Supreme Winner, and Category Winner at the 2008 Red Awards and won Bronze at the 2008 BeST Awards.

CASE STUDIES

CHARLIE

CASE STUDIES

CHARLIE & ME

New Zealand

2010

130 SQM

When Pumpkin Patch created a new brand, Charlie & Me, which was aimed at the ‘playwear’ segment of the childrenswear market, focusing on fashion trends and everyday basics at affordable prices, Studio Gascoigne as enlisted to continue to develop the brand’s retail space. The brief was to capture the young, fashion savvy parents who like to mix high fashion chain clothing and lower-end clothing in order to broaden their market share in the kidwears market.

The store aesthetic exploits the ‘farmers market’ look, along with innovative displays using timber crates and boxes, industrial lighting and hand-written black-boards and signage. The light timber-look foor and fxtures are both rustic and clean. These serve as a great naturally textured backdrop to the brightly, coloured and fun clothing, creating an in-store experience which stands out from competitors in this typically bland segment.

WESTPAC QUEEN STREET FLAGSHIP BRANCH

CASE STUDIES

WESTPAC QUEEN STREET FLAGSHIP BRANCH

Auckland, New Zealand

2011

700 SQM

Studio Gascoigne were chosen to participate in a (paid) 2-way creative pitch to create Westpac’s Bank of the future fagship branch in Auckland’s Queen Street. The brief comprised new customer and staff areas on the ground foor but excluded major shopfront work.

We proposed a way different style of banking. One in which the bank customer was the focus and would encourage better access to the branch while minimising staff time. We focussed on customer engagement and features which would draw customers and passers-by alike into the branch. We proposed a concierge station at the entry, simplifed access to ATMs and spaces to promote Westpac’s business customer.

New technology allowed us to largely remove barriers between customers and staff. We also proposed electronic systems to further facilitate increased customer interaction while reducing staff “face time”. Our coffee caravan has resulted in signifcant additional business for the bank as staff are able to use iPads to prospect amount customers and drop-in coffee customers alike.

Our scheme was passed to the bank’s regular architects (as per our contract) for implementation, who adapted it in accordance with a refned client brief but most features and the general foor plan remain.

SUSHI NINJA

CASE STUDIES

SUSHI NINJA

New Plymouth, New Zealand

2017

Sophie Kurota, and her suhi-chef husband Ken, leased a space in New Plymouth’s Centre City shopping complex near their existing Japanese restaurant. The site was originally an open circulation mezzanine above the food court.

The minimal budget forced much of the “detail” to be in the form of colour and graphics, mainly consiting of the bright Ninja graphics (which we created with the help of a local illustrator) applied to the ceiling and to the simple plywood structure, along with feature paint fnishes and some rope details.

Sophie and Ken took their life savings and ordered an expensive sushi-train mechanism from Taiwan. We set about fnalising the detailed drawings and obtaining consent. Everything was “Go” until our clients’ bank got cold feet and declined their loan application, leaving them with a lease, a sushi train in a ship, and not enough funding to fnish the build. But our clients refused to be beaten and launched a crowdfunding appeal, so were able to secure just enough funds to get the project built.

The result is everything that they hoped it would be. Customers fooded in and Sushi Ninja became a great success. It all goes to show what you can achieve with some great clients, an appropriate design, some real energy and a lot of colour!

This ftout won the Sponsor Shopfront Awards at the 2011 NZRIA RED awards. Images by Patrick Reynolds and sketches by Wallace Ong.

CASE STUDIES

NEW ZEALAND NATURAL

Botany, Auckland, New Zealand

2013

32 SQM

Studio Gascoigne were commissioned to create a new retail format for the iconic New Zealand ice cream manufacturer and retailer. This was designed to be a pilot for a worldwide roll-out to some or all of the client’s 730 stores scattered across the globe.

We worked closely with our clients to re-evaluate the product mix and menu offer as well as creating a new customer service experience. We took New Zealand natural back to its roots by creating a ft-out which reinforced the “natural” properties of their products in such a way that the store looks like a traditional fruit stall. We introduced elements of natural timber and brick along with blackboard menus, which are able to be adapted easily to suit seasonal produce. We also introduced an electronic menu board system which is also able to be adapted to suit the ever-changing menu options offered by freshly available product.

We worked very closely with our client’s graphic design department in order to reinvent their livery to refect a more natural image. Our aim was to increase the perception of value and quality order to encourage the purchase of a wider range of menu options than just ice cream scoops. Menu options such as ice cream sundaes featuring fresh fruit are not only perceived as more healthy by our target market but also generate a higher overall average sale.

The overall result has been more than doubling of the turnover of the store along with greater margins on product. This revenue growth is been ongoing and is increasing monthly.

The two stores opened subsequent to this pilot have shown similar trading results. We have now completed a new retail design manual and this will be progressively implemented to many of the companies stores worldwide, especially in Asia.

CASE STUDIES

RODD & GUNN

Sydney, Australia

2008

250 SQM

Our client’s brief was to replicate the ambience of an upmarket, South Island lodge in order to evoke the casual sophistication of this distinctly New Zealand architectural form, as well as to attract the same target customers to the stores. Most recently the focus for the rollout has been in Australia (where the brand is the biggest) with a number of “superstores” currently being created.

The lodge atmosphere is reinforced with “real” materials. Stone, solid timber, skins and leathers are used. Our client’s brief stressed “authenticity” in all materials keeping with the merchandise. There were some adjustments made to the palate for the Sydney (and shops further North) in that the schist freplace was dropped and sisal rugs, along with canvas curtains, added to make the interior seem more familiar to Australians used to more tropical lodges.

The result has been very well received by existing customers and has attracted many new ones. Proof of this is demonstrated by the turnover increase of nearly 50% (April 2008 vs April 2009) experienced by this store despite retail sales generally being down across the board.

LONG BAY VILLAGE MASTER PLAN

CASE STUDIES

CHOCOLATE LOUNGE

Sylvia Park, Auckland, New Zealand 2008

70 SQM

The Sylvia Park Chocolate Lounge was the frst New Zealand site of the Melbourne based boutique chocolate chains.

The ftout takes clues from the Melbourne pilot model, but with some local enhancements. The decor is predominantly chocolate brown, warm dark timber veneer, brown leather, solid timber foor and chocolate-coloured paint. Relief from the dark palette comes in the form of striking Cararra marble counters, red striped fabric bench seats, glass and white paint along with some mouth-watering images.

CASE STUDIES

JACK’S POINT

CASE STUDIES

JACK’S POINT

Queenstown, New Zealand

2011

700 SQM

Studio Gascoigne were commissioned to work in partnership with Athfeld Architects, and Ath himself, on the development of a new retail and tourist hub for this fedgling community located just outside of Queenstown, bounded by the Remarkable’s and Lake Wakatipu.

The site sits on the edge of a new, artifcial, seven hectare lake. The space is on the ground foor of a multi-storey building designed by Athfeld Architects. The retail spaces will accommodate a general store, tourist hub and booking offces for other adventure activities.

From our discussions with Ath and the client we produced a simple, rustic space consisting mainly of recently rough concrete and timber surfaces. We resisted the temptation to do the obvious schist stone approach. Planning was complicated by the fact that the building was visible and accessible from all sides so positioning of storage and utilities spaces was complicated. We therefore modifed the architecture in order to create some mezzanine spaces to disguise these.

CASE STUDIES

EUROGLASS CREATIVE

Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand

2014

150 SQM

Our client’s brief challenged us to create a very different type of sales offce space and showroom which would attract, not only trade customers, but also affuent residential customers by showcasing glass in interesting and practical ways.

Our response was to create a whole new type of sales space which looks more like an upmarket apartment showcasing glass in a residential context. The space is also intended to be used for promotional events as well as partnering with other suppliers, such as Domo furniture and Fisher & Paykel.

Glass is the hero product without the space looking like a glasshouse. Separate zones were created by raising two areas: one for the open-plan offce and one for the combined kitchen and meeting space. Glass is used not only for windows and mirrors but also for balustrades, white-boards, doors, room dividers, cladding, freplace, marble-like walls, black bricks, cupboard fronts and to provide an illuminated kitchen splashback. Windows and balustrades have been re-glazed with high performance glass allowing customers to view this in use.

We believe this is the frst time that a glass “sales offce” has presented glass in such an innovative way anywhere in the world.

CASE STUDIES

WILLIS STREET FOOD PRECINCT

Willis street, Wellington, New Zealand

2015

Studio Gascoigne was commissioned by McKee Fehl Ltd, a development company from Wellington, to prepare concepts for the development of a retail precinct to sit within three properties located on Wellington’s busy shopping thoroughfare Willis Street. We worked in collaboration with Warren & Mahoney on the public spacescomponent of this mixed-use development which included commercial and apartment spaces in addition to the ground foor retail.

This site comprised a 20s commercial building which is being re-confgured to house offces for a leading IT company as well as a courtyard outside this building and a narrow lot, originally covered by a semi-derelict building, leading to Willis Street itself.

We explored various options for retail, public, business, and community use working with the clients and the architects for the rest of the site, Warren Mahoney. The main retail precinct is the basement of the offce building for which we proposed a scheme for mainly hospitality use. We also looked at the wider site connections to the Willis Street, Ballcot Street, a supermarket, car park and other adjacent buildings.

Various confgurations of laneway and partially covered outdoor dining and public space were proposed as well as suggestions for covering, lighting, landscaping and tiering these. The project is currently being leased and construction has started.

CASE STUDIES

WAIWERA THERMAL RESORT MASTER PLAN Auckland, New Zealand

IMAGES BY ARCHITECTUS

CASE STUDIES

CBD CAFE

CBD, Auckland, New Zealand

2015

This, currently unnamed, cafe located in a new retail precinct in Auckland’s CBD is a work in progress due for construction shortly.

It will cater for both dine-in and take-out coffee and cafe food as well as a full lunch menu focused on business lunches for the surrounding offce towers. There will be an emphasis on fresh, healthy, deli-style dishes cooked to order in the full restaurant kitchen or serviced chilled from the deli cabinets. Wine, beer and a full bar will also be served.

The interior is designed to refect the fresh and healthy menu and to bridge the gap between cafe-casual and more serious dining. We have tried to avoid the clichéd “current” trends in cafe design and maintain a crisp and light ambience featuring timber, green tile, brass accents and copious planting.

The existing shopfront is semi-mirrored glass so we aim to make the interior very visible through this by using light colours illuminated signage and plenty of planting in the windows.

CASE STUDIES

PONSONBY ROAD MASTER PLAN

CASE STUDIES

PONSONBY ROAD MASTER PLAN

Auckland, New Zealand

Mark Gascoigne was invited to sit on a committee formed by Auckland Council to investigate the future of Ponsonby Road and prepare a 30 year plan for its strategic development. A preservation committee was comprised of a number of council appointees and various interest groups from felds including community boards, local Iwi, the New Zealand Police, Cycle Action Auckland and a number of other community groups.

The committee was chaired by a town planning consultant who was tasked with preparing a report for presentation to the council.

The report looked at a wide range of infuences and objectives for the development and preservation of the district including transport, parking, heritage factors, building and architectural controls, cultural issues, development opportunities as well as business, commercial and retail improvement outcomes.

The process took nearly a year of meetings and consultations resulting in a fnal plan which was then presented to the public via a series of community workshops.

IMAGES BY URBANISM+

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND INOX BRANDING

GOA // INDIA

CLIENT: INOX

WALKER GROUP ARCHITECTS WON AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION TO CREATE A MAJOR FILM FESTIVAL CENTRE IN INDIA. THE BUILDING WAS OPENED TO INDIA WIDE EXPOSURE BY AMITABH BACHCHAN AND IS NOW THE HOME OF THE GOA INTERNATIOANL FILM FESTIVAL.

Walkers have designed buildings in India since 2000, one of our first commissions was to create a new image and branding for an emerging new cinema multiplex chain INOX. The intention was once we had created a brand type and had designed several new cinema complexes, then local India designers and architects would use our concepts and adapt it to other multiplex sites without needing our input. This ideology has worked well and we have good relationships and communication with the local designers utilising our initial concept.

The International Film venue for Goa was put out to all architects as a International Architectural competition. Walkers won, part of the conditions was that the building had to be fully designed and built within eight months of us being awarded the architectural concept. Twenty-four hour a day documentation and design coordination with local architects, made possible by offset time shifts across the globe, helped to achieve the short programme for the successful opening of the complex.