Grey Lynn - The Aston

The Aston, 340 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn.

There's a stylish apartment development called The Aston planned for the Grey Lynn ridge that has been designed with a subtle architectural connection to the original Victorian villas in the neighbourhood.

Designed by Construkt Architects and interior designer Ray Lind of Martin Hughes Architecture Interiors for developers Holdam, the main block of the The Aston offers a mix of 32 single and double-storey apartments and ground floor commercial space, with Great North Road, Bond Street and Cooper Street as its three street frontages.

Its chic design and exterior palette of smooth-finished concrete, glass and steel complements interiors designed using eco-friendly, natural materials that will include honed stone and plantation timber floors, and natural split bamboo veneer cabinetry.

Alongside the main block, two double-storey stand-alone villas will become close neighbours with a quaint Victorian square-front kauri villa in Cooper Street.

The house has witnessed many changes to the Great North Road cityscape and its car dealerships, one of which used to be on the site of The Aston's main block.

It is a century-old house that Scott Donnell took a close look at when formalising The Aston concept and, in particular, the two villas that will be an important aesthetic transition between the Victorian villa and the new apartment block.

As a designer, he has deliberately ``borrowed'' elements of the old villa, including the scale of the windows and the facade and the weatherboard cladding.

Each double-storey stand-alone villa has ground floor living to create a connection with the vibrant neighbourhood.

The main building features 22 two-storey two-bedroom apartments that are arranged in two parallel banks aligned with the east-west axis of Great North Road (facing north) with a landscaped walkway and courtyard in between.

The 11 apartments fronting Great North Road sit above the street-level commercial space. The other 11 apartments are elevated above the car park for unobstructed city views.

All apartments have a high stud and all living areas are upstairs to take in expansive near-360 degree views.

The 10 single-storey apartments (including two front penthouses) are located at each corner of the building with three at each end of the Great North Road frontage and two at each end of the south face.

Says David Gibbs, the principal of Construkt: ``Each apartment faces north. We have protected their sunlight because none of these apartments can be built out.''

Opaque glass will be used in the balustrades for privacy. On each of the four corners, semi-translucent glass louvres (in front of the main glass facade) will act as a sun-shading device.

Outdoor paving in natural stone will set the tone for Ray Lind's mix of what he calls ``natural elements and man-made materials''.
Pending resource consents, construction is expected to begin early next year with completion by year's end.

Says Scott Donnell: ``We've been really careful to design The Aston to maximise the sense of height, which is what being on the natural ridge line is all about.''

For developer Miles Morton, of Holdam, it's about setting a new tone for the area with a ``stand-out'' development.

``I want us to look back in 10 years' time and be really proud of what we've done.''

WHAT'S AVAILABLE: Twenty-two two-storey apartments with two bedrooms, two bathrooms from 90sq m each plus decks. Ten single-storey apartments with two bedrooms (including two penthouse apartments) from 81sq m each plus decks. All with secure car parking. Two stand-alone villas with three bedrooms, two bathrooms at 129sq m each.

PRICE INDICATIONS: Two-storey apartments from $579,000; single-storey apartments from $620,000; interest in the villas expected above the high $700,000s.

INSPECT: On-site sales office with an interactive media presentation.CONTACT: Liz McCarthy and Alan Vessey, Barfoot & Thompson, ph Liz 0274 991 573, Alan 021 663 000.

FEATURES: High specification contemporary apartment and office development with three street frontages on the Grey Lynn ridge, comprising 1000sq m street level office space and a mix of 32 single-level and double-storey apartments and two stand-alone villas. Central landscaped walkway, covered secure carparking for all apartments each with their own stair and lift access.