Melbourne-based ICD Property’s international competition to design a new sky tower in Auckland has five finalists: the local firm Warren and Mahoney, International firms of Cox Architecture, Elenberg Fraser, and Woods Bagot, and the London-based Zaha Hadid Architects. The teams were asked to submit two designs, one which follows the city regulations and another that could be built with more liberal planning parameters. The designs were shown to the public at the “What’s Next Auckland?” event, which held discussions about the development of Auckland and its future.
The architects drew inspiration for their design concepts from various local elements, like Maori cloaks, the streetscape of Auckland, and sky gardens. ICD managing director Michael Mai said that the designs were impressive and that they would bring an international standard of high-rise living to Auckland. “We’re very excited to be contributing to the fast-growing nature of Auckland city,” said Mai.
The Five Finalists of The New Sky Tower in Auckland:
Korowai-inspired Tower by Warren and Mahoney
Courtesy of Warren and Mahoney
Korowai, a māori cloak that represents achievement, excellence, and nationhood, has inspired the tower’s cascading facade.
“We imagine the built form on Federal Street standing proudly on the ridgeline shoulders back, eyes up staring out towards Waitematā Harbour – a true symbol of this place,” said the firm’s principal architect, Blair Johnston.
Volcano-inspired tower by Elenberg Fraser
Courtesy of Elenberg Fraser
Elenberg Fraser’s Tower steams from the top like a volcano, inspired by New Zealand’s natural environment. The sky tower also features huge curving glass bay windows which, along with its overall form, provide the residents of each room with sweeping views of the city.
“This is a real opportunity to see what the future looks like. The world looks to New Zealand for its freedom, ingenuity, and independence of thought,” said Callum Fraser. “The spotlight on Auckland is to see what that means for the physical construction of the city, which is only a by-product of that culture.”
Kauri tree-inspired tower by Cox Architecture
Courtesy of Cox Architecture
To inspire and improve the future of Auckland, the tower designed by Cox Architecture tapers outwards as it rises up. The shape of the sky tower is inspired by the local Kauri tree.
“It has to be done in a very Auckland way, rather than importing what is perceived by fashion to be ‘best practice’. The building will be a visual icon for what Auckland can and will look like in the future,” said Phil Rowe of Cox Architecture, “This is a strong-profiled building that will really change the view and the idea of the way people see Auckland beyond just the casino tower.”
The environment inspired by Woods Bagot
Courtesy of Woods Bagot
Woods Bagot has designed a tower that at the street level becomes a space for the public. The architecture firm drew inspiration from the region’s geology as well as its local flora and fauna to create a tower that perfectly integrates with the cityscape.
“Echoing New Zealand’s inimitable geology, Federal Street has been imagined as a natural formation. The building sits gracefully within the skyline’s silhouette and the internal experience has been carefully curated to suit the city’s needs,” said Peter Miglis, principal of Woods Bagot. “Sightlines to culturally significant landmarks, the height of the streetscape, pedestrian connectivity to key destinations and Auckland’s weather have all been carefully considered in order to create a structure that could only sit within this particular skyline”
Sky-Garden Tower by Zaha Hadid Architects
Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
With sky gardens that accommodate pools and restaurants—halfway up the sky tower, this design by ZHA seeks to bring the streetscape into the heart of the building.“Auckland’s ambition and vision for the future must cater for everyone in the city, and in that respect, mixed-use projects and plenty of publicly accessible spaces will be the most successful,” said Michele Pasca di Magliano, associate director of Zaha Hadid Architects.
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