| 63 T T Karen Phelps Collaboration key to award-winner The development seamlessly connects with the existing Ponsonby Central I, creating a series of clear laneways and pathways that lead to eateries, food stalls, and small business pop-ups. Paul Brown & Associates: Ponsonby Central ARCHITECTURE We are proud to have successfully collaborated with Paul Brown & Associates on the Ponsonby Central project. Kingstons, your trusted project management consulting partner. www.kingstons.co.nz | 09 520 7190 Ponsonby Central II – Laneways & Hospitality, located at 4 Brown Street, Ponsonby, has emerged as a shining example of innovative architecture and urban transformation in Auckland. The medium-density, mixed-use development, conceived as the extension of the original Ponsonby Central, has received the prestigious 2023 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland Architecture award in the commercial category. Paul Brown & Associates principal architect Matthew Parker says the project aimed to showcase a seamless integration of modern design, thoughtful material selection, and a focus on community engagement. Situated on the former dilapidated car park to the rear of Ponsonby Central, he says the project wanted to build on Ponsonby Central I and drew inspiration from the concept of the international marketplace. “It aims to provide new gathering spaces for people to connect, dine, and socialise, contributing to the vibrant urban fabric of Ponsonby,” he says. A key objective of Ponsonby Central II was to activate the edges of the park to the west and its Brown Street and Richmond Road frontages. The development seamlessly connects with the existing Ponsonby Central I, creating a series of clear laneways and pathways that lead to eateries, food stalls, and small business pop-ups. The project also incorporates a cinema that faces Brown Reserve, further enhancing the public spaces and community amenities. To mediate the transition between the bustling retail and hospitality precinct of Ponsonby Road and the residential neighbourhood to the west, Matthew says it was a matter of navigating various site constraints and overlays. “The development required careful integration within its context, maintaining the continuity of the area’s special character values while responding to site-specific opportunities and challenges,” he says. The material selection obviously plays a pivotal role in defining the character and identity of Ponsonby Central II creating symbiosis between the old and the new. Employing an eclectic material palette that includes reclaimed tumbled brick, exposed steel, extruded aluminium cladding, and exposed pre-cast concrete spandrels and window head details, the project exudes a sense of permanence and industrial charm. Matthew says the use of exposed aggregate pressed concrete in the laneways and exposed aggregate polished concrete in the internal fit-out adds richness and authenticity to the overall design. Collaboration was a key aspect of the project’s success. The project was delivered in collaboration with Bernau Architects, who undertook the original design for the Ponsonby Central II Resource Consent. Paul Brown & Associates took the project from resource consent (inclusive of all amendments) through detailed design and onto site to completion. The interior fit out design concept and food hall was completed by Kirsty Mitchell. Throughout the design and construction phases, Paul Brown & Associates and the client collaborated to incorporate sustainability initiatives that aligned with the project’s ethos. The development features an innovative air conditioning system that reduces its overall carbon footprint by utilising chilled water instead of standard refrigerant. Reusing materials such as reclaimed brick further reduces embodied carbon and waste. These thoughtful measures not only support the development’s green credentials but also ensure energy-efficient and future-proofed spaces for tenants, says Matthew. He hopes that Ponsonby Central II stands as an inclusive and inviting development, supporting local businesses and fostering positive urban experiences. “By revitalising this urban block and embracing the surrounding context, the project showcases how architecture can play a pivotal role in shaping vibrant, dynamic, and socially inclusive communities. “Its success highlights the importance of integrating good design, community engagement, and sustainable practices to create remarkable spaces that enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike.”
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