| 67 Creating legacies with land Standing on a jetty at Waterton Point, Lake Hood, it is easy to appreciate what draws people to this unique lakeside village. The careful design of sections here has promoted the evolution of individual character and style within a neighbourhood of curving streets and canals. Lawns dotted with loungers step down to the waters’ edge. There are pretty little beaches and people pushing out on their kayaks for a few hours’ recreation. Behind the absolutely picture-perfect scene, an aesthetic triumph, hides a complex design challenge overcome by the current designer Fox & Associates. “Our mission is to create legacies with land and a big part of that is wanting to make a positive difference in people’s lives,” says Carl Fox, Managing Director at Fox and Associates. “For us, people come first. When you’re creating a residential development such as this, you’re creating a place for people to live. While we are always looking for better ways to create liveable spaces, we have found that when we partner with the client and they are invested in the project, it paves the way to a much better outcome. Ultimately it is their legacy.” Lake Hood opened in 2002, with the first five residential stages completed by 2008. A few years’ later, land development consultancies were invited to submit proposals for the Lake Hood Extension Project. Fox and Associates were selected over three much larger consultancies to lead the design and implementation of the extended residential area. “What sets us apart? I believe we have a very clear design philosophy and vision for desired outcomes. We’re very organic in our thinking and constantly considering how people live in and use spaces we create. You’ve only got one chance to get it right – once it’s built, it’ll be there for the foreseeable future.” Under the leadership of company founder David Fox, who established the practice in 1981, Fox and Associates forged a reputation as hillside specialists in Canterbury. His flair for thinking differently is deeply embedded in the company’s philosophy and approach. Fox and Associates favours a natural free flowing, organic style using curves and irregular shapes to enhance variety, connection, and lifestyle, rather than the more simplistic geometric layout commonly found in other developments. This can be well-appreciated from Waterton Point at Lake Hood, where beautiful homes are all individually set back in a pleasing way from the glittering canal side. ” Lake Hood is unique to New Zealand, a dream project for us and one of my absolute career highlights. The vision of the original trust members was for 100-hectares or more of lake to provide a public recreational facility, at the same time creating a lakeside village. As it matures, it will continue to evolve, remain a truly sensational place to live while only becoming an increasingly more important destination and asset for Ashburton and mid-Canterbury.” Fox & Associates Offices in Christchurch and Ashburton www.foxsurvey.co.nz
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