Business South May 2021

| 87 Building craft at its best in iconic New Regent St T Kim Newth Photos: Kate Claridge Photography BUILDING Canterbury - Dan Saunders Construction www.wilkieandbruce.co.nz 03 379 7739 residential commercial heritage urban design education community interiors hospitality T: 03 366 1777 • E: engineering@pfc.co.nz • W: www.pfc.co.nz Structural • Mechanical • Electrical Fire • Civil • Hydraulic • Acoustic Powell Fenwick is proud to support, and work alongside, Dan Saunders Construction. Email: ruben@rubensjoinery.co.nz For hand crafted, solid timber stairs and balustrades, unique timber doors and windows, timber double-hung sash windows. Kevin Williams 021 221 2616 kevin@digoutservices.co.nz www.digoutservices.co.nz Covering ALL excavating • requirements throughout • Christchurch & North Canterbury “The building was constructed with precast concrete panels that had to be craned in over the tram lines.” H aving an opportunity to build on the last remaining non-heritage site on New Regent Street was a rare privilege indeed for Christchurch firm Dan Saunders Construction Ltd. Working alongside Wilkie + Bruce Architects, Dan Saunders and his team have created something very special at this incredible loca- tion: a stylish apartment building with ground floor cafe that beautifully complements the heritage setting. The very high standard of build achieved was recognised at the 2020 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards with the project receiving a Gold Award (residential catego- ry) and a Value Award (for projects in the $2m-$5m range). “We are so thrilled to have won these awards and are so proud of the team for the exceptional craftsmanship that went into get- ting such high marks,” says Dan Saunders, a Master Builder who brings decades of building experience and a passion for excellence to every job. A leader in high performance homes, he has created many beautiful and sustainable homes in the Christchurch area. New Regent Street, with its cheerful pas- tel-coloured Spanish Mission architecture and distinctive little shops and cafes, is revered in the city. Christchurch lost many beautiful old buildings in the 2010-11 earthquakes, making this heritage streetscape all the more unique. Getting it right was therefore an imperative for all involved with this new high end archi- tectural development on the New Regent/ Armagh St corner. Luxury apartment living takes up two floors - complemented with a garage, lift and north-facing terrace - with a cafe on the ground floor. Design development by Wilkie + Bruce Architects included consultation with Heritage New Zealand and presentations to the Christchurch City Council Urban Design Panel. The building blends perfectly with its vibrant yet sensitive location, respecting the scale and articulation of New Regent Street’s shops while also referencing the finish of the adjacent building, The Piano, through features including cedar timber shade fins and Prefa aluminium cladding. From a building perspective, the location presented considerable logistical challenges. New Regent Street is a bustling pedestrian mall next to busy Armagh St, with sight-seeing trams also regularly passing through it. The footprint of the site was tight at only 113m². “The building was constructed with precast concrete panels that had to be craned in over the tram lines,” says Dan. “We couldn’t do that safely during the day so the panels had to be lifted into place in the early hours of the morning while it was still dark. It was quite a spectacle getting that done, working under lights.” Dan and his team worked to a meticulously high standard to install all the detailed finish features that make this building connect so el- egantly with the culturally rich area. The result is outstanding. “Building this stunningly designed and ap- pointed apartment and café was a very special project, indeed. “There have been only a couple of oppor- tunities to build on New Regent Street in the last 100 years, and now it is likely that another 100 years or more will pass before the street is built on again.” Meanwhile, Dan Saunders Construction is continuing to make a positive contribution in Christchurch as a builder of high standard, energy efficient homes with new projects underway in 2021. The building blends perfectly with its location, respecting the scale and articulation of New Regent Street’s shops while also referencing the finish of the adjacent The Piano complex.