Architect Designs a Modern Apartment with Breathtaking Views (Apartment Tour)

With breathtaking views across Herne Bay, the architect designs a modern apartment that takes elements of suburban life and introduces them into apartment living. Allowing for an evolving brief, Artifact Property approached Monk Mackenzie to collaborate on a mixed-use development that positively contributed to Auckland’s built environment. Encompassing eight units in total – one commercial space, six apartments and a penthouse – Jervois Apartments is simple, elegant and timeless.

Due to the location of the site, the architect designs a modern apartment to fit a 33-metre length block that rises 15 metres above. Taking advantage of as much space as possible, the project uses the length of the site to its benefit and, in turn, offers occupants the opportunity to live spaciously. Sitting high on the ridgeline and facing north, each apartment has been cleverly planned out. From the façade, a winter garden deck with views of nature greets those who enter and sets the scene for what is to come. From this, a long view of the apartment imbues a similarity to the openness that suburban homes offer. Positioned at the southern end of the apartment, the street-facing bedrooms and private spaces offer a unique placement that defers from other apartment designs.

Monk Mackenzie and Artifact Property employed an interface between private and public domains with metalwork screens. By employing the screening on the façade, the exterior design offers varying degrees of transparency and opacity. Through this unique use of materials, the architect designs a modern apartment that offers a different experience from opposite sides of the building. From the bedroom, a direct sightline of the surrounding landscape is offered to the occupants through the screens, whilst from the street below, the façade strikes a wave-like form that seamlessly blends into the built environment.

At the north end of the apartments are the living and dining spaces, kitchen and enclosed deck where the occupants can sit outside during winter whilst being sheltered from the elements. Though Jervois Apartments sits on a narrow site, the architect designs a modern apartment that optimises space to create a spacious interior environment. In the kitchens, the incorporation of natural stone, oak and metal work into the material palette has been seamlessly styled together with Fisher & Paykel appliances – such as the vertical column fridge-freezer, wine fridge and ovens. With the insertion of minimal and clean appliances, Fisher & Paykel products blend into the kitchen without taking away from other elements of the apartments. Contributing to Auckland’s built environment, an architect designs a modern apartment that allows the occupants to live a city life whilst being surrounded by suburban comfort.

00:00 - Introduction to the Modern Apartment
01:05 - The Brief
01:28 - Similarities of a Jigsaw Puzzle
01:44 - Contributing in a Positive Way Through Architecture
01:58 - The 8 Apartments
02:20 - The Layout of the Building
02:45 - Separation of Functions
03:45 - The Site Itself
04:16 - The Material Palette
05:06 - The Kitchen Design and Appliances
05:28 - Minimalistic Features of Fisher & Paykel
06:01 - Proud Moments

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Photography by Simon Wilson.
Architecture by Monk Mackenzie.
Styling and Interior Design by Amelia Holmes.
Development and Build by Artifact Property.
Engineering by Structure Design.
Joinery by SWP Interiors.
Appliances by Fisher & Paykel.
Filmed by Swell Productions.
Edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Project.

The Local Project acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

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