The Cab, 1 Greys Avenue, Auckland. Photo / Supplied
A heritage-listed building may not prompt thoughts of matters new but forward thinking is a big thrust of The CAB apartment block and the wider development around it.
The former Auckland Council Civic Administration Building (those last three words abbreviate to "CAB") has a heritage listing but it only relates to certain elements, which will be retained.
Josephine Love, director of design with husband-and-wife developer Love & Co, knows the building designed by Tibor Donner in the 50s has its fans and its detractors.
However, her finance-oriented husband, John Love, CEO of the Civic Quarter Project, says: "It's going to be fully refurbished and while we won't be changing the facade beyond recognition it will look very different than it does now."
The building's modernist shape will be retained, as will the internal terrazzo staircase snaking up one end, and the mezzanine-ground layout, which will in future bustle with restaurants and cafes.
The glass curtain wall outside the building will be replaced with a new double-glazed one incorporating larger, opening windows.
Three levels of former basement storage will be recreated as amenities including an indoor pool, gym and theatrette, plus carparking available to purchase.
Josephine says: "A big part of living in The CAB will be the way we're going to activate and bring new life to this whole area. There's so much missing from this end of the city, which is why we feel we can do so much with it."
Love & Co will be building another three buildings around this refurbished building, constructed by the Ministry of Works as one of Auckland's earliest skyscrapers.
This former backwater off Aotea Square will also have a new CQHQ (Civic Quarter Head Quarters) building, with art gallery, boutique office space and roof-top restaurant.
The Loves are on the verge of announcing which operator will run a new 4.5- to 5-star, 150-bed hotel to be built fronting Mayoral Drive.
Their third new building neighbouring The CAB will be a mixed-use apartment-office building recently confirmed to include a boutique supermarket as part of its mix.
Josephine is steering the strong design aesthetic of the development and says The CAB apartments will have European elegance enhanced by natural materials such as marble kitchen benches and solid timber flooring.
She and John are working with architect Jasmax across the entire development, with heritage architect Salmond Reed also consulting on The CAB.
The modular nature of the building allows for diversity of apartment size so as well as one-bedroom to three-bedroom dwellings, larger four- and five-bedroom residences are available as required.
In deference to the building's past, it will continue to bear the stylised crest incorporating kiwis, a distinctive place marker on the exterior.
The couple are based on site, alongside the display suite, and Josephine says: "We still have people coming in wanting to pay their parking fines."
What were historically smokers' balconies for council employees will be refurbished as open-air balconies for eastern-end apartments.
Some other residences will have internal balconies with floor-to-ceiling glazing.
The most thrilling views are from the top floor, available as one 600sq m penthouse suite featuring an internal courtyard, but there are sea views from Level 12 up, and great views of Aotea Square and the Town Hall.
The apartments will be close to a new railway station under construction, Queen St, Q Theatre, the Aotea Centre and Aotea Square's ever-changing activities and events.
"There's something new to see out there every day." says Josephine.
Work is scheduled to start this year with both The CAB apartments and the wider development due to be completed by mid to late 2019.