Student Village

CASE STUDIES :

MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL

NEW CLASSROOMS - WHITBY

STUDENT RESIDENTIAL VILLAGE

NORTHCOTE / AUCKLAND / NEW ZEALAND

COMPLETED - FEBRUARY 2003

Background Brief

The client worked in conjunction with a university to provide purpose built student apartments adjacent to the campus. The apartments would be self-contained with a central common room. The university would manage the complex with the manager living on site.

The buildings were to be 2-3 storeys to suit local height limits and provision was to be made for some accessible apartments including lift access to one block.

An existing 2-storey apartment building was also to be relocated onto the site from the main campus.

Car parking for approximately 80 cars was also to be provided on site.

A view during construction looking towards the central courtyard area at the junction of the two 'streets'

Concept

The apartments are in blocks of 4-6 apartments with 2 apartments per floor around a shared stairwell. They have been grouped around the north and east side of the site cr4eating a central pedestrian zone. The carpark has been located directly off the street and separates most buildings from the adjacent residential neighbours.

At completion the internal streets are paved and landscaped.

Interior Environment

Each apartment includes five individual bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen. Extensive use has been made of timber plank walls to reduce maintenance s well as contrast with the remaining painted walls.

The accessible apartments include infloor showers in one of the bathrooms and adjustable kitchen sink bench tops. Generally the lounges face onto the common street space and the bedrooms face away from this area.

The upper level is clad with corrugated zincalume and the central bathroom to each apartment features an angled bay facing away from the main pedestrian areas to give privacy.

External Environment

The buildings are standardised with variation being achieved with the number of floors and different colour treatments. Some blocks are joined while others are stand-alone.

Construction is all timber framed with a Zincalume mono-pitch roof. Wall cladding is a mix of corrugated Zincalume and textured cement fibre sheet.

The front face of each building has been curved across the lounge area, up to the top floor ceiling level. This creates a dynamic façade and highlights the entry of each block as well as creating additional space in the entries for wheelchair access.

Distinct colours to the blocks provide variety to the complex.

Result

The project has provided 40 good quality and affordable apartments adjacent to a growing university. The site development provides a pleasant environment for the students to gather and socialise.