Regardless of the size and complexity of the project, we seek to exceed expectations in both our documentation and service, delivering projects within agreed time frames and budgets.
Walker Group Architects Ltd. has its origins as far back as 1932 when the first firm, Lewis Walker, was founded in Auckland, New Zealand. Now, as always, we aim to produce buildings of aesthetic quality, sound construction through enduring sound design, lateral thinking and excellence. We take a holistic team approach with an integrated, total building focus to create inspirational and environmentally sustainable solutions, concentrating on and meeting our client’s expectation through close collaboration is a baseline for us - “ we listen .”
We understand that the clients of the modern building and construction industry require of its consultants an understanding of the latest proven technologies and trends. The resources, people, and technology in Walker Group Architects enable us to undertake a broad range of projects, through our specialist business units, including commissions involving design, feasibility studies, planning submissions, contract documentation and administration, quality control and peer reviews.
Determining the feasibility of building site and overall location forms a feasibility study. As Walker Community Architects design LDS buildings, we first, when requested, investigate the best use of the land, and its proposed functions. Our work at this early stage includes general principles, diagrammatic plans and sections.
Once the project proceeds and feasibility is accepted, we create our magic with the LDS team and their criteria. Developing the initial feasibility and creating options if relevant. The plans show seating layouts, and the use of our purpose designed computer programme and 3D modelling package to determine optimum efficiency in design and quality of the environment to the end user. Also at this stage, we create sketches and images to give the “feel” of the place. This process is an essential part where we integrate our client’s expectations. This phase of work forms the basis of the design development. This work can be 3D computer modelled with fly throughs or hand crafted sketches to explain the concept. Some examples of this are in the Temple View Stake Centre.
In this stage, greater detail is overlaid on to the concept. At this point, working in conjunction with a Quantity Surveyor, we can design to a budget or give early expected cost parameters of different design elements for consideration. The areas of detail include stairs, toilets, detail ceiling plans, and various feature elements within the building which are used to prepare construction documents for Walker Community Architects to fully document this stage.
Accurate contract documentation is essential to a successful project, and we pride ourselves on getting it right the first time. From liaison with the developer’s shell architect through to the final drawings issued for construction, covering every aspect of the building. We produce thorough and fast documentation, with clever use of materials to ensure longevity and reduce future maintenance issues. We have an extensive data file to call upon which is continually updated to ensure we have access to latest trends and technology.
Administration of the contract begins at an early stage with meetings with the builder. Contract observation means we can provide immediate solutions to possible potential problems thus alleviating any worries the LDS Church may have during construction.
Walker Community Architects accepts commissions to retro fit older buildings. The extra challenge of these constraints does not hinder the outcome. Our latest retro fit is the library at Temple View, involving the use of the latest technology and standards into a holistic design that when finished seems as if it was purpose designed from the onset.
It is a result of a regard of their attention to detail and available resources, which Walker Community Architects have become preferred peer review specialists.
OREWA // NEW ZEALAND
I n 2010 the existing Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse sat at the water edge of the North- South orientated park known as the Orewa Reserve. There is an over-demand for its facilities which are frequently used throughout the year for community functions, surf carnivals, car shows, circus and on a casual basis by members and by the locals for ocean edge dining and play.
In summer, a vast number of people gather to enjoy the long and shallow white sandy beach outside the Clubhouse.
Vehicles using the existing car park overflow onto the grassed surroundings. The park is an open grassed land with large mature trees such as Pohutukawa, Macrocarpa, Norfolk pine and Phoenix palm, open to the ocean along its eastern edge, a green foreground view for the residents along the Hibiscus Highway.
The new Clubhouse orientates across the park towards the ocean edge. Its bulk is raised above the park to enhance the views through and across the park towards the ocean and to provide a covered entrance. The entry provides separate access to the ground level club rooms and changing/toilet facilities from upstairs functions and dining facilities. The entry doubles as welcome reception and kiosk community retail. New exterior seating areas and decks have been designed around the club
house for the benefit of the Clubhouse users and general visitors to the area. The ground forms create a solid base for the new building and conceal a semi-basement storage area for boats and ocean equipment accessed from the beach ramp below.
WAIRAKEI // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: FRANCIS
This complex of buildings is designed as a retreat from the city apartment. It is intended for easy entertaining and can accommodate several guests, as well as retaining the residents’ personal space. An environment memorably different from city life is created.
The concept of this house is to create a collection of buildings that has developed over time to provide a protected outside courtyard. This central courtyard has an oak tree located on the key axis of the buildings which acts as both a link to the seasons and as a blurring of the line between architecture and nature.
The collection consists of four buildings; a red cedar structure as the shed, a stone building placed at the entry as well that acts as an anchoring feature on the site, a modern glass and timber pavilion containing the living areas, and a black cedar guest wing. Creating a sense of establishment on the location has been crucial in the design.
‘A Third Way’ is our proposition to leave the earthquakedamaged Christchurch cathedral as a preserved ruin and which would allow for a new purpose built cathedral to suit the modern requirements of the Anglican Church on another site. This option would add a valuable historical ruin to the few that exist today in New Zealand, as a raw and lasting reminder of the natural disaster that struck the heart of Christchurch.
‘A THIRD WAY’
Part One - The Glowing Cross, allows people to experience the interior of the cathedral while remaining sympathetic to the history, significance and religious affiliations of the Anglican Church. A reinforced glass/acrylic enclosed passageway in the shape of a cross ascends from the subterranean in the square, up through the nave and to the altar – offering unprecedented views of the post-earthquake cathedral. This new structure would be designed to withstand earthquakes and falling debris. The northern part of
this cross is elongated to allow egress through the northern door out to the square. The glowing cross embodies the divinity of the church while remaining as a public amenity to be used for tourism, education and science. The new passageway hopes to not only reconnect the people with the cathedral but also to the square; allowing it to become the lively heart of the city that it formerly was.
Part two - Image of the Past, treats the cathedral more as a spectacle to view, rather than interactively experience. The glass passageway from the previous concept is not included. Instead, the western wall is completely glazed with a lattice of steel structure and glass; engraved with the facade details of the original western wall and porch. The interior of the cathedral will be well lit, with up-lights that silhouette the many columns, arches and stone detailing; displaying the glowing interior like a lantern in the night.
NORTHCOTE // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: HOUSING NZ
The Tonar Street project for housing NZ was a multiunit redevelopment built for the long term.
“ The property has held up very well since its construction and highlights that the proper use of materials and good design can have positive outcomes in maintenance applications “
Kevin Carroll, Manager Property Services Group, HNZ
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
Alarge Housing New Zealand development for 40 new residences with a central shared park which encompasses and provides connections to the sites existing natural formations. 20 residences are to be 3 and 4 bedroom stand alone or terraced residences on individual sections, under individual titles, accessed directly from the existing streets or from a new single shared driveway.
The developed residence typology comprises a simple readable street facing gable form with open glazed
frontage for street permeability. Its wrap-over wall/ roof junction helps enhances its singular character with glazing cutaway like the gaps in the leafy foliage of a tree. Materials include metal cladding, timber reveals and fine metal glazing bars, natural colour toned to the existing and new basalt walls. Open treed front yard gardens front the streets and landscaped decks and rear landscape gardens open onto the central park.
UPOLU//SAMOA
Client: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Among many Pacific Island projects for the Church, Walkers worked closely with the local Service Centre architects to develop the standard plan and construction documents for this new meetinghouse building and site development. Key new elements in
Church passive design were incorporated such as the front gable with attached spire, side entrance gables and the multipurpose/ chapel rostrum configuration. Construction administration was by local island consultants.
Client: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church purchased a large vacant site in South Auckland that had previously been used as market gardens and had become overgrown.
Walkers worked with the Church on a campus style development initially housing a new Stake Centre with adjacent land blocks available for possible future Church development or sale for housing.
The Stake Centre was the first ‘Passive Series’ standard plan Stake building in New Zealand incorporating a blend of both ‘passive’ and
‘active’ attributes necessary to suit the New Zealand environment, building codes, construction methodologies and processes. Due to the Auckland winter wet weather shut down on major civil works, the project progressed in two stages and tendered contracts. Firstly, summer earthworks up to a pre- construction base was completed and secondly over the winter period, construction of the building itself under a separate contract. Walkers assisted the Church from pre site purchase analysis through to handover to Church Stake membership.
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
A major redevelopment and expansion project of the existing retirement home facilities on 30 acres of land is proposed for the Pakuranga Park Village, off Fortunes Road, Pakuranga. A master plan has been developed with the client to include 9 stages of building development around a large central ‘oasis’ park with gardens, fountains, flower beds and tree-scape lawns, including a new four level luxury apartment building, a new hospital, a specialist dementia unit, a medical centre with general retail, cafe and pharmacy, several 6-8 level retirement apartment buildings, a new community centre, pool complexes and supporting servicing / storage / parking amenities.
The sequencing of the construction stages is to accommodate the continuing operation of the Village, the retention of and consideration for the existing residences and roading infrastructure, the upkeep of the residents existing amenity and the creation of a new public access and entrance with traffic light controlled intersection on the Pakuranga highway.
The first stage is the beginning of a consenting process and negotiation with local community to build up support for a more dense bulk of higher quality buildings in a traditional area of single level dwellings and community buildings.
The first stage building is the four level luxury apartment which is positioned opposite the existing 3 storey apartment block next to the current main entrance of Fortunes Road, to frame the entrance to the site. New tree and flower-bed planting border each side of the realigned entrance way to promenade the visitor down a future central park.
The building bulk is set back from the street and neighbours. It is separated from them by a substantial grassed lawn area with medium scale and large trees.
A large cobbled plaza links the new building with the existing across the new vehicle entrance, to slow the traffic and claim the space for the pedestrian and to provide a generous drop-off for the new building’s entry. Beyond and behind the building a ramp leads down to the basement with parking for the residents.
A large louvred screen spans over the ground level pedestrian entry, catching and reflecting the sunlight and shadows, providing screen and enclosure for the building’s glazed entrance and building’s
atrium beyond.
A four level high ‘green’ wall fills the back of the entry atrium, inviting the visitor to look up to a glazed roof skylight. Wrapped around the atrium a walkway connects the lift and stairs to the apartment entries. Contrasting timber panel doors and framed glass side panel define entry and welcome the visitor. Apartments surround the atrium on three sides east, north and west and open out to large retiring decks to the sun, air and tree park.
AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: FORCE - VILLAGESKYCITY
The brief was to produce a quality building to house activities which principally revolve around or feed off entertainment. This building had to be exciting, memorable and exude the notion of entertainment. The building is incorporated into the entertainment hub known as The Edge. The building footprint fronts onto Aotea Square, Bledisloe Concourse, Queen Street and abuts The Civic Theatre, with which it shares loading facilities. The tall, narrow, aerofoil plan shaped atrium runs in a strong diagonal across the complex and serves as a pedestrian link instead of the original streets. With walls and roof of the same material, it appears like an
alien object above, plunging into and taking root in the old historic Fergusson and Civic buildings accentuating the difference between the old and new. Most of the activities housed within the complex such as the Force Cinemas, Planet Hollywood and Imax Cinema are inward looking. When the patrons visit the entertainment centre, they enter a different world, and everything is designed to reinforce this. In short, to keep them entertained by stimulating the senses as well as offering enough variety that they experience something new each time they visit.
HAMILTON // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
This resources and archive centre located within the main Templeview site was a very demanding project, from initial concept design to its current status of construction and administering the contract. Our design on one aspect is refurbishment to the exterior of the building in strict accordance H with the original 1950’s architecture and NZ historical Places criteria. A central new link and main foyer were integrated into the existing fabric of the building in a highly modern and contrasting fashion - “structural glazed element”.
The building construction has been challenging due to
many structural last minute changes, as the building’s original structure was less sound than first thought, involving enormous efforts of all consultants trying to overcome the structural intrusions within the architecture without reducing the overall architectural intent and impact.
The finishes of this building like the new Temple View Stake Centre is to have simple, honest materials and to be the same pallet for consistency and forming a template for the Temple View architecture for future development. Like an orchestra, all associated buildings of Temple View are different yet encompass a harmony.
SOUTH AUCKLAND // NEW ZEALAND
T he project consists campus style development with two building, a three level consulate office of approximately 1500 square metres, one level consulate offices, one commercial office floor and a level of ground floor retail, a separate traditional Fale building seating over 450 people which we believe to be the largest in the world, a formal Malae or traditional gathering area and an associated 55 space car park.
The openness of the traditional Malae and transparency through the adjacent office building at ground level provides clear sightlines that reinforce the legibility of entry points into and out of this space allowing a high level of passive surveillance at all times. From within the Malae, view corridors connect back to the Mangere town centre. From within the office building, strong visual connections were created from the north facing gathering areas and balconies. At ground level, physical connections from the retail level and Fale link these main internal spaces together worldwide was made easy via the internet.
The American client Skyventures & iFLY world is one of the world leading companies in the field of indoor skydiving. They have built over 51 facilities in 8 countries and have another 26 facilities in development and construction worldwide.
Skyventures & iFLY world selected Walker Commercial Architects to facilitate this process in Queenstown, New
Zealand, because of their experience with tourism and entertainment projects in the region as well as their ability to work successfully with multinational clients.
The project development was the careful amalgamation a highly demanding and technical brief for a complex building, on a difficult and restrictive site which was selected specifically for its level of exposure to a high number of tourists utilising the immediate area. The process involved a long and detailed design development phase to integrate the technical, physical and aesthetic requirements demanded by the client, site and local authority Urban Design panel to get the project through the resource consent approval process that is required in Queenstown.
The success of this project to date has been the satisfaction of the client obtaining their approved resource consent for one of a unique iFLY building proposed worldwide, located in one of the most demanding and dramatic locations in New Zealand.
Walker Commercial Architects are operating as the lead consultant and bringing together all the appropriate expertise and knowledge to ensure the viability of the project at the earliest possible stage.
The current success of the project is due to Walker Commercial Architects ability to respond to and deal with the demands required of this type of project with an International client.
OTAHUHU // NEW ZEALAND
The client wanted this place of worship to be removed from worldly tasks.
The “Mosque” uses the square form usually incorporating a single dome to symbolise infinity. The bulk and height give a feeling of isolation from the outside. This leads to the idea of connection to the divine without being interrupted by exterior ornaments. Building orientation and facing the Kibla in Mecca during prayers is absolute and cannot be compromised.
Thick walls and setback smaller windows and possibly Arabic calligraphy will form the exterior facade of the building.
Uninterrupted prayer hall with views to the Mehrab and Mimbar (place for priest) will be created on the inside. The two level clerestory will give a sense of height in relation to the bulk. The lower level will have views of the interior of the dome. Minimal religious writings on the inside walls.
HAMILTON // NEW ZEALAND
CLIENT: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
4
000m2 large multi-use Stake Centre community building, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, incorporating a chapel, cultural hall, teaching blocks and administration areas. The architecture is sympathetic to the neighbouring temple and existing temple view precinct with its 1950’s American style overtone.
The attention to materials and detail is reflective of the importance of this building’s juxtaposition and relationship to the temple. The strong axis through the building, including its one large interior courtyard, is extended out into the extensively landscaped grounds. The building’s design is based on a notion of simple, honest materials, with an elegance and yet understated presence. The building is in the construction phase.
The brief was to provide a holiday home in contrast to our client’s house in Singapore. Large open-plan living areas allow for entertaining, but can also be subdivided to provide more intimate spaces. Accessibility for the client’s elderly parents was also a consideration.
Located on the West face of the Crown Terrace overlooking the Wakatipu Basin, on just under 5 hectares with a building platform to the rear Northeast corner in a large gently sloping field. Constraints included strict covenants on materials, roof shape and an unusual maximum height clause which was measured from excavated ground level. Due to the restricted height of 5.5m, the roof form was broken down into a rhythm of small gables. This allowed a series of skill ceilings which help define the internal space while creating a greater feeling of volume and light.
AUCKLAND
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Auckland Central, 1010
PO Box 5319
Wellesley Street, 1141
Auckland
New Zealand
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