Ponsonby and the city fringe suburbs have seen an explosion in apartment style living over the last 15 years.
Of course, Ponsonby and the surrounding suburbs are also known for their sense of community and modern apartment living offers a range of ways to foster this. Developers often begin to build community long before residents have moved in. Rethinking.space, a residential apartment developer with a focus on sustainable living, has already created closed Facebook groups and organised face-to-face events for residents of their latest project even though completion date is still eight to nine months away.
Building community with welcoming communal spaces or state of the art shared gyms and yoga studios are just some of the ways developers and architects ensure they are offering residents a sense of community as well as a home. Whether your budget is unlimited or more restricted, there is likely to be an apartment complex to suit your budget and your lifestyle.
For some, apartment living is an opportunity to live within some of the city’s most vibrant and beautiful spaces. 30 Madden in Wynyard Central, developed by Willis Bond and designed by Pacific Architecture, is an example of refined luxury at its best. Apartments, townhouses and penthouses set against a backdrop of Auckland Harbour are visually breathtaking but their appeal is deeper than just good looks. The design of 30 Madden extends beyond the exquisite interiors and high-quality fixtures and shows a commitment to creating sustainable buildings and communities that thrive.
Like Willis Bond’s previously completed Wynyard Central, 30 Madden is designed with a commitment to sustainability and community. “The vision for Wynyard Quarter is to create a lasting waterfront community,” says Willis Bond Managing Director, Mark McGuinness.
“Willis Bond is committed to implementing considered and sustainable designs that sit harmoniously within their surroundings and benefit those who enjoy them today and those who will in the future.” Wynyard Central was recently awarded 7 and 8 Homestar ratings making it the first large scale, multi-unit development to do so.
Homestar is a comprehensive rating system, run by the Green Building Council, that measures the health, warmth and efficiency of New Zealand houses. It encourages builders, developers, architects and engineers to go beyond the requirements of the building code to create homes that are more sustainable, energy efficient and long lasting.
On the other edge of the inner city is the increasingly popular Eden Terrace where Proxima Residences are poised for construction. On a unique spot that commands incredible views across Auckland, these luxury apartments are close to the heart of all that Auckland has to offer and start at a surprisingly affordable price point. With the choice of one, two or three-bedroom apartments and the option to bring the family pet, Proxima is an example of the versatility modern apartment living offers.
Affordability without compromise is at the heart of the vision of Rethinking.space. Designed to cater for Auckland’s diverse and rapidly growing population, Rethinking.space is an initiative by Legacy Property. Legacy is the developer of Ponsonby’s Aria Apartments designed by Toa Architects and the boutique 43 Brown Street complex.
“Our key vision is to develop apartments that are affordable and sustainable without compromising on quality or community,” explains Mike Beazley, general manager of Rethinking.space. One of their latest projects, Space:2 on Burns Place in Takapuna, is designed to be affordable, sustainable luxury. By not providing carparks but having easy access to public transport these savings are passed on to the new owners. “Every resident gets an electric scooter with their apartment as well as access to a pool of electric vehicles for those times they need a car,” says Beazley.
Everything from the way the homes are designed to the superior insulation, ventilation and water saving qualities contributes to the building’s reaching the targeted 7 Homestar rating. “Working with partners and suppliers who have adopted strong sustainable practices and materials is key to our building methodology, and the ability to create residential living spaces that offer visionary residential apartment solutions for a growing Auckland. By adopting internationally acclaimed ideas in sustainable urban design, we are providing a lifestyle choice that’s more affordable, more rewarding and better for the environment,” explains Beazley.
Daisy Apartments are another sustainable success story and were New Zealand’s first apartment complex to achieve a 10 Homestar rating ensuring a healthy sustainable lifestyle for those living in them. They featured state of the art green technology, energy saving features and the use of communal eco-friendly cars. Representing a modern, low carbon, low impact style of urban living, Daisy Apartments are an example of how affordable higher intensity, environmentally sustainable housing can be.
Since the apartments’ completion in March last year, Daisy residents have enjoyed living in a complex capable of generating its own power via a photovoltaic solar farm on the roof, easy access to public transport and reusing and storing rainwater for use within the complex.
Of course, apartment living isn’t new to our central suburbs. One of the most beloved apartment complexes is the well-known Star Flats in Freemans Bay. Reported on the Homes to Love website as our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s favourite building, the apartment and townhouse complex was built as part of a social housing scheme in the 1960s and continues to be a popular and enduring apartment complex with a vibrant and thriving local community.
Apartment sales specialist Nigel King offers a well informed oversight into the apartment sector. “I literally only sell apartments,” explains Nigel. “Apartments have actually become the natural and preferred choice for a whole spectrum of buyers from the empty nesters looking to downsize for a ‘lock and leave’ scenario to solo, first time buyers and professional couples.” There are many reasons that are making apartment living a preferred choice. “The opportunity to buy a brand new, well designed, stylish abode that requires minimum maintenance appeals to all sectors and, obviously, affordability is
a key component, too,” says Nigel.
Today, apartment living is a more versatile, flexible choice than ever before. With a number of apartment complexes currently in development in the Ponsonby surrounds, the choice to choose a home off the plans is the first step to a low maintenance, carefree, vibrant urban lifestyle. With clever use of space and light, new apartments provide the shell for a home that can reflect who you are and the life you want. All it takes to turn your apartment into a home that tells your story is furniture, homewares and a flair for interior design. Luckily, Ponsonby and the surrounding suburbs have some of the best design stores and experts available.
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