All 21 two-bedroom units in Arches, Mission Bay, sold within 14 days of coming to market last month. Agent Rob Ashton from Bayleys Remuera, already has a list of keen back-up purchasers standing by in case the opportunity comes their way.
Architect Chad McMan, director of Paterson Cullen Archaus says that when he began meetings with the developers, they were very open-minded in terms of architectural style which gave him the scope to design something he’d been thinking about for years.
“I presented the idea of Californian-style living, set around a central courtyard, and they immediately loved it.”
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The units, designed by Paterson Cullen Archaus, are wrapped around Californian-style courtyards, and nod to Mission Bay's older architecture. Photo / Supplied
McMan based the building on seaside developments that had inspired him, during regular architectural study tours in the United States.
“The style of this building wouldn’t work so well in say, Ponsonby but courtyard apartment living is a natural fit for Mission Bay.
“While it’s a new concept for New Zealand and costs a little more than building conventional apartments, it will definitely pay off in the right setting” he says.” he says.
“People appreciate the fact that they’re not going to be buying identical little boxes — these are really nice homes to live in and it’s my hope that the central courtyard will become a warm, friendly gathering place.”
The architecture was intended to be cool and classic, a natural fit for the neighbourhood. Photo / Supplied
Unlike many contemporary Auckland apartment buildings, the interior style of the Arches homes is cool and classic, rather than edgy and industrial. It is designed for many of the buyers who have come from traditional family homes in the area and so their heirloom furniture fits in perfectly.
Anna Gilhooly, representing the developers, Crafted Projects, says that the project’s success has been due in no small part to the team who worked on it.
“The Paterson Cullen Archaus design was refreshingly unique and a natural fit to its location, which created infectious excitement in everyone working on the project.
“Naylor Booth & Associates on interiors, LA4 on landscape architecture, Front Room on marketing, Litchfield + Fields for the scale model and the stunning exterior architectural rendering done by Matter Visuals were all integral to its success.”
Buyers have included both young professionals and down-sizers. Photo / Supplied
The development is expected to be completed around mid-2022, with Gilhooly saying buyers are a real cross-section, including downsizing retirees and younger, upwardly mobile professionals. “We had a lot of interest from offshore too,” she says. “Arches must have looked like heaven for Kiwis in lockdown overseas.
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