Architectural project manager Hannah Chiaroni-Clarke says she is ‘super excited’ about Aalto, named after legendary Finnish architect and critical thinker, Alvar Aalto.
“He loved using bricks and so do I. In fact, he built an experimental house showing the many ways of arranging them for different effects and patterns, and that inspired me to go for clay brick and glazed brick cladding on Aalto’s exterior – it looks amazing.”
Chiaroni-Clarke is also very pleased with the interiors, which have a distinctly modernist feel, and purchasers will be able to choose their own colours if they want to.
“We’ve included lots of green, to reflect nature. The floors are oak-look vinyl, and the apartments really lend themselves to the botanical style decor that’s popular right now.
Start your property search
Aalto, at 2 Finch Street in Morningside, features a selection of apartments, ranging from a simple studio through to one and two-bedroom units. With many years experience under its belt, Ockham Residential is a very innovative developer, and creative thinking is evident in all aspects of Aalto.
The company is committed to encouraging Aucklanders to live sustainably so there is no car-parking but instead, there’s a huge bike and scooter room in the basement and a bookable Cityhop car with an e-vehicle charger sits outside.
Morningside train station is right nearby, and regular bus services run to and from the city. Ockham also likes to encourage people to mingle, providing amenities such as Aalto’s stunning residents’ lounge.
“It’s essentially a huge glass box on the roof, with 360-degree views of the city and surrounding suburbs,” says Chiaroni-Clarke.
There’s also a roof-top deck and garden, with raised flower and vegetable beds, which are irrigated using a rainwater retention system.
Amongst other thoughtful touches are the bookable guest bedroom for visiting family and friends and each apartment comes with a basement storage locker.
Further innovative features at Aalto, include a communal work-from-home office designed to get residents out of their dressing gowns, but still be close to home, with no commuting required.
In terms of location, it doesn’t get much better. Morningside is fast developing into a very arty community, with shops and cafes, Fowlds Park and Western Springs for recreation, and St Luke’s Westfield Mall just 15 minutes walk away. Vibrant, bustling Kingsland is just down the road and there will be no parking woes when the big games or concerts are on at Eden Park.
Well-built and easy to maintain, Aalto’s apartments come with quality appliances, fixtures and fittings. There’s LED lighting, New Zealand wool carpets, and the bathrooms have porcelain floor and wall tiles while the kitchen has engineered stone benchtops and tiled splashbacks. The balconies are a good size and windows are double glazed.
“We’re very excited about this development,” says Chiaroni-Clarke. “When potential buyers see what’s on offer, they will be blown away!”
Prices start from $550,000 for a studio, from $600,000 for a one-bedroom and from $810,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
The property is being marketed by Joss Lewis and Nick Reid of Ockham Residential.
