64 | ARCHITECTURE Hoxha Bailey Architects T T Karen Phelps High quality homes that fit their site The design process is driven by space planning and strongly influenced by the natural and built context of the locality. Hoxha Bailey Architects has seen the landscape of Auckland undergo significant transformation, primarily driven by changes to the Unitary Plan. Traditionally the practice has worked on new homes and renovations in the city’s older and heritage zoned suburbs where significant restrictions applied to development. Jason Bailey, who owns Hoxha Bailey Architects with Pashtrik Hoxha, says it has been interesting for the practice to see how the Unitary Plan changes are affecting these areas and the opportunities it is opening up. “I have complex feelings about this, as to drive around Auckland it’s obvious there are some pretty ghastly outcomes with intensification,” says Jason who became a registered architect in 1996 and started his own practice in 2000. “We are finding as a lot of sites are freeing up for development we are working on more small-scale development projects of typically three homes on a site. At Hoxha Bailey Architects we approach it the same way as we would with a single house – designing homes of high quality that fit with their environment.” The design philosophy of Hoxha Bailey Architects is founded on values of regional modernism, says Jason, where the design process is driven by space planning and strongly influenced by the natural and built context of the locality. The practice is currently working on two small-scale development projects, where each of the clients have an unusually high stake in the outcome as they are planning on living in one of the dwellings themselves. “If they are living in one of the homes, they are committed to achieving a quality architectural outcome and creating a great living environment for themselves and their neighbours. It’s a very personal investment.” One project in Ponsonby is for a client that Hoxha Bailey Architects had previously built a home for that has purchased a site with a heritage overlay that can accommodate three houses. The design response of Hoxha Bailey Architects is for the homes to be informed by the traditional parts of Ponsonby, along with composing the overall site to achieve privacy and quality outdoor living space for each dwelling. “These opportunities allow the developments to stack up and the land to be utilised better - a great outcome for the developer as well,” says Jason reflecting on the continually rising build costs in an inflationary environment. “By contrast, our mid scaled projects such as large renovations have become more difficult for people to build due to the cost of materials and financing considerations. As a country we are constantly improving the quality of what we do in terms of building but that comes at a cost.” The other end of the spectrum of the practice’s work with regards to regional modernism can be seen in a recent project in Piha – a home in a natural rather than a built context. Protecting the natural heritage of the environment was key and challenges included limitations of coverage and keeping the house discreet in a bush environment. As Jason lived in Piha for a number of years the project was particularly close to his heart. The project took place during Covid-19 and the big storm and resulting slips meaning it took significantly longer than it was expected to. The neighbouring house was destroyed in a slip, bringing home to the client the importance of sound design. “The client could really appreciate the investment in the foundation work and the cost that went into this on a steep site. Architects and engineers need to design with these considerations in mind.” He says key challenges going forward for Auckland’s growth is the ability of archaic infrastructure to cope. “Existing infrastructure is really struggling to cope with the pace of growth. For example the drainage network isn’t coping well with the rate of building around Auckland. We need to consider the implications of this when we design and bring in the right consultants at the outset to deal with any issues.”
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