84 | Dealership design recognised The Ingham Great Lake Taupo car dealership received a silver award. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN DLA Architects T T Sue Russell AW Design Ocean views a significant feature T T Karen Phelps In 2024, DLA Architects celebrated a significant milestone, blowing out 50 candles on the birthday cake, and through those decades of operation and expansion, the practice has gained an enviable reputation within the profession. Martin Swann is one of three directors of DLA Architects (formerly Whanganui-founded Dickson Lonergan Architects). He leads the Hamilton business, which is one of several studios now spread around the country. At this year’s Master Builders Commercial Projects Awards, the Hamilton studio’s work in designing the Ingham Great Lake Taupo car dealership and workshop development received a silver award. The Wellington branch also secured a gold award for their work at Urlar winery, Gladstone Wairarapa. “We’ve completed numerous showrooms and workshops for John Ingham over the years,” says Martin. “This one, located on the corner of Titraupenga and Spa Road, is home to Hyundai, Isuzu, Nissan, Omoda and Jaecoo brands.” The 1145sqm building serves two main purposes. In the front half is the showroom where new vehicles across the brands are displayed, along with office and staff amenities spaces. Beside this is a similarly sized area boasting state-of-the-art workshop, grooming Hastings-based architectural designer Andrew Whitney has established himself as a master of site-specific design, with his latest project, a three-level oceanfront home at 5 Charles Street, Napier, exemplifying his highly detailed approach. The spectacular property, situated on Napier’s foreshore, represents the culmination of a collaborative design process that began in 2022 when clients approached Andrew to build a new home on the waterfront site. “This project was all about being able to be flexible and work with the client’s needs to take full advantage of the site and push it to its maximum capabilities,” Andrew explains. The site had an existing house that didn’t meet the client’s requirements. Andrew says they wanted to start fresh and create something extraordinary, leading to an intensive design process. “For me, design is very project based. I am designing a house for my client, not for me,” he explains. “So I take all the clients’ ideas they bring me, which may in some cases be significant information, and in others just a brief outline. I mix this in with the site and council rules and the design starts from there.” Andrew’s detailed approach came to the forefront when he discovered the existing house had been built over a boundary, requiring the clients to purchase additional land from the council before construction could proceed. “Sometimes, you get thrown curve balls,” he says. “Thoroughness, and making sure I understand all the rules and requirements before I even start drawing, is key to avoid unexpected surprises after the build commences.” The resulting 354sqm home on the 683sqm site maximises the spectacular ocean views through innovative planning. The second level features 100% glazing on the sea-facing side, incorporating sliding doors and glass panels to create seamless indoor-outdoor living. The main living area, kitchen, dining, and lounge area are positioned on this level to capitalise on the views. Andrew says a key client requirement was the ability to open the front door and look straight through the house to the ocean view. This level also includes three bedrooms. Below this floor is a ground floor housing the garage. The top level accommodates the master bedroom, ensuite and study. The home’s exterior combines vertical cedar cladding with Stria, while a steel-structured entrance canopy creates a distinctive architectural feature for visitors. The project has been delivered in partnership with Revered Homes, showcasing the collaborative approach that characterises Andrew’s practice. His commitment to clear communication ensures clients understand exactly what they will receive throughout the design and construction phases. With over 30 years’ experience in architectural design, including more than two decades as principal designer at Andrew Whitney Design Ltd, and seven years as director and partner at Createus Group, Andrew has recently returned to his roots as a sole practitioner. He says his passion for crafting ideal solutions for each client’s needs remains undiminished. As a member of Architectural Designers New Zealand, Andrew is a strong advocate for high-quality design. Diversity has been a hallmark of his career and has seen him work on projects spanning residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality, healthcare and education. Other past projects include Meeanee School multi-use space, Bridge Street Apartments and Retail, and The Thirsty Whale Bar and Restaurant. Some of his projects have taken place over more than a decade. For example, since 2013 he has been involved in the Ascot Park Retirement Village in Taradale, Napier, a complex long-term project featuring 18 standalone villas and a 3237sqm care facility, designed to create an upmarket rest home complex. “This project shows how this practice can successfully deliver large complex projects, working with the client to plan the project from the early stages and being flexible and adaptable to changes,” explains Andrew. “This project had to be carefully planned to transition residents from older facilities into the new. It’s been an exciting and rewarding project to work on, with fantastic clients.” “This project was all about being able to be flexible and work with the client’s needs to take full advantage of the site and push it to its maximum capabilities.” bays and back-of-house amenities. Martin says there were a number of elements in the building that needed to be articulated in its design and situation on site. “We undertook an early site assessment and deemed the best form for the building envelope was to mimic the site boundary lines, and to set the building back in a slightly elevated situation. “In this way we enabled maximum capacity at the front for all display cars, and very good viewing from the road and footpath.” When John Ingham bought the land it was not zoned for commercial use, so before work proper on the project could commence, it was necessary to gain council re-zoning consent. Martin says the site offered really good access and visibility along with location and profile. “Intuitively, after 20-plus years designing car dealership buildings with John, we know how they need to be. We look at neighbours, setbacks, height to boundary lines etc. All these factors add constraints to the site and layout. “We also have a very good sense of how big the forecourt needs to be, so there are a lot of factors that help inform the design along the way.” Ingham Great Lake Taupo was constructed by Livingstone Builders, a prominent Waikato commercial construction entity, that DLA Architects has collaborated with many times. Nationwide Industry Floor Solutions Industrial and Commercial Flooring Solutions to Meet Your Every Need We specialise in: Epoxy Flooring Polyurethane Systems Chemical Resistant Flooring Non-Slip Textured Flooring Waterproof Flooring Fast Curing MMA Resin 06 356 1435 admin@nzsc.co www.nzsc.co Licensed Applicators of: Q T Hamilton, Palmerston North, Christchurch , TE KUITI 07 878 5169 TAUPO 07 378 8545 OTOROHANGA 07 873 6385 LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY PROUDLY SUPPORTING DLA ARCHITECTS LTD actionelectrical.co.nz Int. 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