| 63 T T Sue Russell Focus on contemporary architecture The TOMRA research facility near Hamilton Airport. Cullen Keiser Architecture When architectural designer Daniel Cullen was presented with the opportunity to purchase an existing practice from his old boss, ready to retire, he jumped at the chance. Cullen Keiser Architecture is based in Tauranga and the team consists of five full time staff. Daniel has over 20 years’ designing experience both in New Zealand and overseas. Projects are varied which is just what Daniel enjoys. “We focus on contemporary architecture, combining the latest materials and styles for commercial and top end residential buildings. I love the challenges that come from starting with a blank canvas and creating a design, fit for purpose, with style and appeal that will service my clients well,” says Daniel. Commercial work in particular is something Daniel really enjoys getting his design-brain connected with. He enjoys the challenges of creating a space that meets the working needs of his client and their staff, while presenting a building with character and flair. Such is the case with the TOMRA research facility near Hamilton’s airport, which captivated the attention of judges at this year’s ADNZ Waikato Design Awards, receiving a Highly Commended citation. The history of the project goes back several years, to 2017, when Daniel and the team were approached to take on the project. As a highly future-focussed leading-edge company intent on celebrating product and process innovation the design emphasis focussed on celebrating TOMRA’S culture. “We wanted the design to reflect the values and attitude of this business, by creating a large warehouse space and bold, bright, stateof-the-art offices. The answer was to create a two-storey building with stand-out design elements for statement and visual interest,” Daniel explains. Brightly coloured ACM panels pop out from a more subdued Colorsteel backdrop. Inside the large gable-ended warehouse factory is divided into a number of activity centres, including inwards/outwards good, electrical and welding rooms, test facility packhouse and manufacturing space. Outside, small fruit ‘test plots’ have been planted. Once the fruit is harvested it will be sent through the temperature controlled test facility packhouse where products TOMRA is developing will be assessed and tested. A central full-height atrium is home to a “I liked the way the building reflects a desire to provide the people working in it with opportunities to exercise.” series of offices that branch out to the various sections. A gym on the first floor is available for clients and staff to access any time of the day or night. “I liked the way the building reflects a desire to provide the people working in it with opportunities to exercise and promote well-being. A cafe/kitchen facility serves as a place for people to gather, socialise and replenish.” A strong design element is the stacked ‘popouts’ around the offices, where colour has been used to great effect. There is nothing about this building that is shy or subdued and it makes a real statement as to how a commercial space can be both practical in layout and artistic in expression, resulting in a workspace people enjoy being busy in. “The building needs to inspire people, given its purpose is research and development and I think we achieved this.” Best of all, feedback to date from the teams working inside the building have been very positive. The team working with Daniel are young and enthusiastic highly-skilled technicians and the culture of the practise is one where input and ideas from one colleague to the next are sought and encouraged. “Often the best results in design come from bouncing ideas around because we all think in different ways and out of that collaborative approach the best outcomes arise.” Daniel says there is plenty of work on the table at the moment and though the larger projects have slowed down, given economic constraints impacting the borrowing of large sums of money, he’s pleased with the level of activity. “My goal ultimately is to double the size of the practise and to work more in different divisions within it – commercial, residential and alterations. I also want to create more flexible ways for the team to work.” ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
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