24 | Esk Street ‘re-activated’ To shelter from bad weather, laneways are internal, but designed to feel as if they are outdoors. The clock from the NZIC building was refurbished and installed in the interior. T T from page 22 Southland: Buchan Group: Invercargill Central REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT The result is a mix of richly layered architectural forms and materials that create interesting and engaging streetscapes. A key objective was to re-activate Esk Street. Here, three heritage facades have been retained and restored, maintaining a strong connection to the site’s past while 11 separate facades replicate the scale and diversity of a traditional high street, reinstating Esk Street as a prime retail destination. On Tay Street, a dynamic car park screen was inspired by the Aurora Australis. The screen is made from Kaynemaile, a bio-circular, polycarbonate mesh designed and made in New Zealand. This provides good ventilation and is the canvas for colour-changing lighting that mimics the aurora in a captivating nighttime display. Buchan’s team worked closely with lighting engineers and Kaynemaile to test and perfect this feature. The demolition of 43 existing buildings provided the opportunity to salvage, restore and re-use some materials and items. The clock from the NZIC building was refurbished and installed in the interior, along with leadlight glass panels and heritage verandah posts. Bricks recycled from the demolition have also been re-used in the new build, connecting past, present and future. Buchan’s designers were mindful of the unique climatic conditions in southern New Zealand. To offer shelter from occasional Antarctic winds, laneways are internal, but designed to feel as if they are outdoors by repeating elements from the facades, the use of skylights, and floor finishes that imitate external paving. Invercargill’s low winter daylight hours mean lighting plays a big role in creating a safe, warm and inviting environment. This lighting accentuates architectural features, notably on the heritage facades, and is carefully tailored for different activities and times of day, with attention to glare control for visual comfort. Chair of Buchan client Invercargill Central Group, Scott O’Donnell, described the project as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver New Zealand’s most southernmost city “a bright and bustling city centre and give Invercargill its heart back.” Construction of Invercargill Central created over 400 new jobs and a labour spend of $80 million. With the project complete, more local employment opportunities have opened, and increased spending and visitor numbers will provide a further boost to the local and regional economy. Daren notes Invercargill Central shares similarities with Buchan’s precinct design work in Ipswich in regional Queensland, where a staged revitalisation has brought people of all ages back to the city centre. “Quality precinct design is an investment in social, cultural and economic sustainability. Invercargill Central has given the community an exciting, new place to gather and a renewed sense of optimism, and the positive impact will be felt well into the future.” SOUTHLAND 03 215 9068 1 Kinloch Street, Invercargill sam@nulooksouthland.co.nz www.nulook.co.nz Talk to us about the windows and doors that are right for your home. Industrial • Commercial • Residential “Quality Solutions delivered on Time” INVERCARGILL QUEENSTOWN DUNEDIN CHRISTCHURCH Cronos Projects is excited to have been a part of the delivery of the Invercargill Central Project. B.B CUNNINGHAME LTD Cow Shed Wall/Pit/Floor Coatings ALL TYPES OF WET AREA NON SLIP FLOORING Southland owned and operated for 60 years For a Free Quote PH: 0274 328 537 Em: glenn@bbcunninghame.co.nz 50 Spey St, Invercargill RESIN FLOORING, SPECIALIST COATINGS AND WATERPROOFING
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