Top global architects share their vision for Auckland

23 August 2018

What’s Next Auckland? Top global architects share their vision for Auckland

Five internationally renowned architects are heading to town to debate the future of Auckland and reveal designs for a building that will introduce an international standard of vertical living to the city.

What’s Next Auckland? will showcase designs the architects – including leading New Zealand firm Warren and Mahoney and London-based Zaha Hadid – have created for a landmark high-rise development in Auckland’s CBD as part of an international design competition run by ICD Property.

The architects – also made up of international heavyweights Woods Bagot, Cox Architect, and Elenberg Fraser – will discuss their vision for the city and how their building designs reflect this.

The winning design will be built by ICD Property, a Melbourne-based property development company, on a site in Federal St near the Sky Tower.

ICD Managing Director Michael Mai says Auckland is an incredible city and it is only starting to realise and uncover its true potential with projects such as the City Rail Link.

“The reason we are running a design competition of this kind is to find the best quality architectural and urban design solution for the Federal St site – and to create a building that contributes to the city’s future growth and development.”

The architects were required to create two building designs for the site – the first that works within Auckland Council’s current city planning rules and a second that showcases what could be achieved under more generous planning interpretations.

As part of What’s Next Auckland?, global consultancy company WSP will also present findings on the future of Auckland and how the city ranks in its 2018 Global Cities Index – A Tale of 30 Cities.

The Global Cities Index, which will be revealed on August 27, rates 30 major cities from around the world on a number of variables to rank them against each other and measure how “future ready” they are.

What’s Next Auckland? will be held on September 6 with the architects and WSP presenting to 100 city leaders, decision makers, and industry representatives.

“We want the seminar to spark conversation about what Auckland’s sky line will look like, but also what the future design, functionality and make-up of the city will be and how new buildings like ours will help achieve that,” says Mai.

The architects design brief highlighted the importance of respecting key influences on the “fabric of Auckland” including the city’s volcanic landscape, the culturally diverse make up of Auckland, and consideration of Mana Whenua.

“The winning design will tick all those boxes, but it also has to be much more. It needs to enhance Auckland’s sky line, help refresh and revitalise Federal St and the surrounding laneways and be a truly distinctive landmark in the middle of the city.”

Information on the project will be revealed at 65federalst.co.nz following the What’s Next Auckland? event and the winning design will be announced in late September.

ENDS

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