The future of Wynyard Quarter

Wynyard Central: Once completed the Wynyard Quarter residential development will be the first in New Zealand to target a Homestar 7 rating for sustainability. Image / Supplied

Rising from the blank canvas that is the land behind the North Wharf at Wynyard Quarter will be an eco-development of 500-600 apartments, townhouses and duplexes of various sizes and price points.

Developed by Willis Bond, the five sites are to be designed by renowned New Zealand architects and will reach full build out by 2024.

In a perfect world this boldness to embrace more sustainable building and living measures would be market driven. In the case of Wynyard Quarter, it is largely due to the vision set by the landowner and masterplanner of the wider area, Waterfront Auckland.

Drawing on its status as a publically owned development agency, Waterfront Auckland has taken a largely custodial, hand-ons approach to Wynyard Quarter with a focus of pushing boundaries in design and public amenity.

Design has already significantly progressed on two sites with construction expected to begin later this year. The first site, to be called Wynyard Central, overlooks the recently developed Daldy Street Park. It consists of free-standing, pavilion-like structures overlooking the park, terraced houses developed over three levels and an apartment block.

The second site features a signature building overlooking Viaduct Harbour. Once completed the Wynyard Quarter residential development will be the first of its scale in New Zealand to comprehensively target a Homestar 7 rating for sustainability.

New behaviours will be encouraged through intrinsic design of the buildings but also in innovative approaches to recycling, water and energy conservation and generation, walking and cycling amenities, car parking and transport.

Design details are yet to be fully confirmed but proposed sustainability measures to date include:

• Investigating the provision of pooled cars which will be able to be booked by residents.

• Bike racks and provision of capacity for recharging electrics cars.

• Buildings carefully designed to maximise sunlight and daylight.

• Vast majority of lighting (up to 95%) intended to be low energy LED fittings with a central smart lighting switch.

• A significant proportion of the unshaded upper roof of apartments has been made available for a solar array, with a plan for the arrays to be dedicated in part to the electrical requirements for the common areas.

• As per Homestar requirements, there'll be a separation of general, mixed recycling and organic waste within each apartment.

• Urban agriculture opportunities via balconies to maximise on-site food production. In addition there is potential for developing a communal food growing facility/city farm element in the precinct.

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