| 105 Construkt Architects Ltd ARCHITECTURE Kim Newth Construkt is currently involved in a number of medium and high density housing developments. Construkt Architects is a multi-disciplinary architectural practice with a strong history of creating considered architecture and urban design focussed on enriching people’s lives and building enduring communities. The award-winning Auckland-based team works across the housing sector, designing single high-end homes through to multi-unit residential projects. In line with the growing shift towards greater density in our cities, Construkt is currently involved in a number of medium and high density housing developments. “It’s an exciting time to be involved in the multi-unit residential sector, not only because of the buoyancy of the market but also because from our perspective it presents an opportunity to set an example of what good intensification looks like and how that can benefit the city fabric and the lives of people living in those homes,” says Construkt’s most senior director Russell Cannons, whose architectural career spans almost 30 years. Construkt has been a leader in the New Zealand market when it comes to introducing housing density, with groundbreaking projects such as Auckland’s Hobsonville Point. This is a masterplanned community on the former Hobsonville airbase and was one of New Zealand’s first comprehensive medium density housing developments. Key design features include connectivity, varying build density, a hierarchy of street types and a variety of architectural forms. Construkt delivered the masterplan and is still designing homes there today. Another influential project for Construkt is the urban regeneration of Northern Glen Innes, where the practice provided concept masterplanning, urban design, and architectural design for multiple homes ranging from standalone to terrace houses. “That has been a phenomenal success, showcasing integration of the private and public spheres and modelling the introduction of densification into an existing suburb. The result is a vibrant urban environment for residents and the wider community.” The practice has four directors, all bringing unique and complementary skills to the task of leading the team, encompassing design, technical expertise and administration. Together, they have fostered a culture of continuous improvement, exemplified by a rebranding this year that reflects Construkt’s design evolution and focussed, sustainable, cultural and collaborative identity. Construkt Architecture welcomes opportunities to learn and build new relationships and is on a journey to expand cultural understanding. In August, the team was honoured to be welcomed onto Awataha Marae, with the visit including a powhiri, korero over kai and learning about key values and pepeha practice. Proactive investment in state-of-the-art tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Visualisation is another hallmark of the practice. “What I’d hope is that our work demonstrates how to do intensification well ...” Technology is used at all stages of design delivery. “We were very early adopters of 3D modelling software as we see benefits for the practice and our clients and we’ve continued to invest and grow our skills in this area.” Looking at today’s housing market, Russell observes that Auckland is now accustomed to higher density but this is still a relatively new trend for other parts of New Zealand. That’s now changing with growing intensification in other centres. “We’re starting to move out of Auckland, bringing the lessons we have built up over the last 15 years to other parts of the country. As housing sites continue to reduce as a result of densification, even more responsibility falls on us as architects to design with care and consideration.” In Hamilton, Construkt is involved in masterplanning and designing a number of new medium density housing developments including The Fore, a new pocket neighbourhood of 48 homes in the heart of Frankton; Designing for quality urban living and Aurora, a masterplanned community of low and medium density housing with reserves and a beautiful natural environment that is part of a wider greenfield development in south-west Hamilton. “What I’d hope is that our work demonstrates how to do intensification well and will raise the expectation of the market so that buyers demand a greater level of design quality.” Congratulations to Construkt Architects on another successful project — Hobsonville Point. HFC Group are proud to be part of the team.
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