Chow:Hill, in the role of urban designers, master planners and architects, have over recent years worked with the Selwyn Foundation to develop a 20-year master plan for the 500-resident Selwyn Village, located in Auckland’s Pt Chevalier. The primary objective was to design a range of high-quality facilities that address all aspects of senior living and aged care. The master plan was accepted in 2002 and, through a series of phased projects, the village will evolve to incorporate a new care facility, as well as new multi-storey apartments and single-level townhouses.

Stage 1 of Phase 1, the construction of the $10.9 million three-storey Bishop Selwyn Apartments, is now under way, with Chow:Hill engaged as architects, landscape architects and interior designers. The proposed building will accommodate 49 one- and two-bedroom self-contained apartment units, with basement parking for residents. Each apartment contains a number of unique features, including a generous entry lobby, large bedroom space with adjoining bathroom/laundry facilities, and a spacious living/dining area which opens onto a glass-fronted balcony with sliding cedar shutters.

The shape and form of the Bishop Selwyn Apartments takes into account features of the site, including a number of mature trees which have been incorporated in the surrounding landscape design. Vertical elements, in the form of balcony structures around the building’s façade, add proportion to its mainly horizontal structure. A sense of scale has been introduced by dividing the apartments into two wings, with shared resident lounges and facilities on each level. The character of these spaces will be different, depending on size, shape and aspect, to encourage individuality on each floor.

For more information on this Chow:Hill project,
Email: simon@chowhill.co.nz