Sky Terrace

The rooftop is conceived as a hybrid space combining three spaces in one – the main plaza and garden (east) and social (west) rooms flanking the main tower. The ground plane establishes a singular connective surface in an abstract ‘graphic field’ derived from the underlying waterfront hydrology. The garden is conceived as an authentic ecology, reintroducing rare and endangered native vegetation into the cities public realm. The carefully articulated interface between plaza, garden and a system of microenvironments provide nested opportunities for occupation.

Furniture

The bespoke furniture recalls the crafted timber forms of both indigenous and post-settlement boat building technologies. A combination of hard (surfaces, architectural frames) and soft (moveable furniture, lighting and technology) enables a flexible and adaptable space able to be appropriated for a range of events and activities that support a contemporary workplace. Hard and soft infrastructures allow a variety of curated experiences and operational modes that enable Sky Terrace to provide a continually evolving range of experiences.

Laneways

The laneways within the Commercial Bay shopping precinct provided the opportunity to incorporate cultural features within the ground plane. They are also creating continuity and cohesion with the materiality proposed for the Lower Queen Street civic space and Albert Street. Smaller size pavers provide an intimate feel with an appropriate scale for laneways at approx 3-6m wide.

The site-wide paving distribution is informed by the four site entry points - Quay Street (north), Customs Street (south), Lower Queen Street (east) and Albert Street (west) - the ‘four winds’. At these key threshold points, the projects guiding pattern is introduced. As you move through the laneway system, different variations of the pattern and distributions of light and dark are deployed to provide variety and site-specificity within a cohesive strategy.

The project has required extensive research and development of green technologies and methods unique in the New Zealand context. The rooftop landscape, green walls and hanging gardens enable and contribute to on-site rainwater harvesting and re-use and have supported the wider Commercial Bay project receiving both ‘design’ and ‘as-built’ 5 star Green Star ratings.