“Making the most of a challenging site”

Relationship to site, context, presence

The design brief was to fully utilise this steep site to accommodate 2 apartments without compromising the view from the existing house behind. The apartments themselves were required to be generous in size, including double garages, exterior living areas, and lifts; and the whole development had to be achieved in compliance with the requirements of the District Plan.

Relationship between concept, form, structure

Essentially the design solution involved excavation of the bank in progressively stepped layers, and forming retaining walls to supplement other bank stabilisation structures. The built form therefore steps up the bank, and several return walls reinforce the retaining function of the concrete block structure. The frontage of the 2 units is almost completely open in order to address the river views, apart from the ground level which uses the garage space as a foil to the busy street.

Light, colour, texture, space

Because of the open frontage, there is virtually no sense of the bank from the interior of the apartments. All living spaces are well lit and have good outlook; and the living areas open out onto generous deck areas located above the double garages. Attention to fittings has ensured that the kitchen/dining/living areas are state-of-the-art.

Structure, construction, materials, detail

Architectural and structural design address site stabilisation as well as accommodating the 2 apartments effectively. Transverse and retaining walls are concrete block; and quality, low maintenance materials have been used throughout, including polished granite walls, Tasmanian oak timber flooring, anodised aluminium joinery and cladding.

Contribution/spirit

This project has demonstrated how a successful development can be achieved on extremely marginal land in one of Hamilton’s dress circle locations.