Beaumont quarter

At the foot of an escarpment overlooking the Waitemata Harbour, the Beaumont Quarter sits across from Victoria Park on a site previously used for a gasworks. The site is in close proximity to central Auckland, and the motorway passes nearby.

The 2.4ha site is large for the inner city, so the development of a master plan (a comprehensive long-term strategy) was necessary to organise the layout of the streets, the location and massing of the buildings. An overall landscape strategy was developed to define the outdoor amenity areas better.

The developer was keen to ensure variety within the quarter so four different architectural practices were contracted to design the buildings and renovate the Victorian gas works. This variation in architectural styles helps create visual interest and diversity within the development.

Beaumont Quarter is comprised of 238 units containing 33 different housing types. The development was delivered in three phases -stages one and two were predominantly terraced housing with stage three being mostly apartments.

The architecture is contemporary, and of a modest scale. Elements such as balconies and the position of windows and doors provide each building with an attractive face to the street. This is further helped by a variation of building heights and setbacks which adds to the distinctive character of the quarter.

Project information

Rohe/ Location: Auckland Central
Project Type: 238 Terraces and apartments
- 91% Terraces and 9% Apartments
Date of Completion: 2006
Owner/Developer: Melview Developments LTD
Architecture/Urban Design: Studio Pacific Achitecture LTD

On a sunny day looking down on the apartments and terraces with the Auckland skyline in the background.

Design elements

Understanding the neighbourhood

The development has excellent walking routes within the site, and is well connected to the city centre and Ponsonby. It is also very close to the Northern Motorway and bus routes.

The quarter is close to the city centre and Victoria Park offers a whole range of ‘live-work-play’ opportunities.

This mixed use development offers a great deal of choice in terms of housing types, modes of transportation and lifestyle.

Residents’ facilities, including a 16m indoor heated swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna and spa, help to provide a sense of community.

The retention of a number of mature trees and the refurbishment of some of the gasworks buildings add a sense of heritage, character and identity to the development.

A cyclist rides past the entrance and facade of the development from Beaumont street.

Looking towards the southern entry point of the development overlooking Victoria Park and Beaumont Street.

Placing the buildings on the site

The development successfully incorporates a heritage building.

Site layout is based on a street network that helps to integrate the development back into the wider city, and gives a public address to the buildings.
While the buildings on the western slope of the quarter have extraordinary views of the harbour, they are designed so that the occupants don’t feel their privacy is compromised

The existing industrial building on the site frontage has been retained and refurbished for offices and includes a small café.
Multiple building platform levels are used to minimise site constraints.
The retaining walls are stepped and supported with comprehensive landscaping elements to minimise excessive soil movement.

Looking up Fisher-Point Drive; there is a old red-brick buildingon the right and the apartments line the drive on the left.

Looking into Fisher-Point Drive from Beaumont Street.

Street to the front door

Buildings are given a sense of individuality by using a range of materials and forms, and by being highly articulated.
There is a good balance between providing privacy to the residents, while still having a sense of openness against the street.
While the houses are different, the planting and fence types are consistent -creating a landscape theme through this part of the development and reinforcing a sense of identity.

The terrace facade is bright in the sunny afternoon light, with bold modern lines offset by leady trees.

Looking towards a terrace housing block on Fisher-Point Drive.

The building

The development uses several house-types to effectively manage a significant height change of over 20m across the site.

While there are a wide range of quite different building types within the development they have a consistent design style.

There are decks on both sides of buildings which are recessed into the building façade. This creates depth in the building façade, and provides shelter and privacy for the occupants.

The materials are robust, the building is easy to maintain and this will ensure it looks attractive as it ages.

Looking from street-level at the apartments. They have bog windows and balconies with plants on ground level.

Looking at a staggered dual aspect apartment block towards the northern end of the development on Fisher-Point Drive.

The ‘public’ face of the housing has been carefully designed with integrated balconies and shading screens that give a sense of quality.

The houses have been designed to be easy to heat, light and cool naturally. The shallow floor plans allows the maximum penetration of daylight –to heat and light the building; while also allowing effective cross ventilation to cool the building in summer.

A cosy back yard with a garden table. Two people are sitting having a cup of tea under a tree.

Looking at a terrace housing block –entry to these three storey townhouses are from Fisher-Point Drive.

Outdoor spaces

All the housing units have been designed to allow good sun access.

A wide green lawn hemmed with trees and terraces in the development.

Overhead birds eye view looking into one of three communal open spaces –access off Fisher-Point Drive.

The retaining walls block road noise and ensure the private outdoor spaces are quiet in a dense urban setting.

Open plan living areas are well connected to quality outdoor spaces.

The ground floor windows and doors are generous, providing good levels of light and ventilation and a real feeling of spaciousness

A shaded and cosy backyard with plants and a BBQ. People are seated outside having a chat.

Open plan living areas are well connected to all private outdoor living courts - escarpment level apartments in the background.

Accommodating the car

The apartments to the east cleverly use the slope to accommodate basement car parks.

Providing basement car parking frees up more development floor space on site.

Looking from a across the street at the parking garage entrance.

The Boardwalk lane which is located towards the top of the escarpment can be accessed from the west end of Fisher-Point Drive.

A conscious design decision was made not to provide cover over the external car parks -this would have blocked the view into the building units/unit entrances, and could have created security issues.

The development prioritises pedestrians by narrowing the streets and not allowing the car parking to dominate.

Looking across the street at the facade of the terraces.

Looking at a terrace housing block on Brickfield Way – access off Fisher-Point Drive.

Floor plans

Typical floor plans of a two-storey terrace house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Typical floor plans of a split level terrace house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Typical floor plans of a four-storey split level terrace house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Typical floor plans of a two-storey split level terrace house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Typical floor plans of a three-storey terrace house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Typical floor plans of a three-storey split level courtyard house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Typical floor plans of a three-storey terrace house, site plan on top right, building elevations on the bottom right.

Download the PDF

Beaumont Quarter

High density development in a central city environment that utilises a wide range of typologies.

PDF download 1 MB

Related case studies

Looking across the street at the orange tiled facade of the townhouses.

Kotuitui II

Kōtuitui Courtyards and Terraces are two rows of two and three level terraced housing located in Manukau.

Looking at the homes from the street in the evening light; there are people walking around.

Buckley terraces

Good terraced house development that creates an excellent edge to the street while accommodating the car via rear lane access.

Beaumont quarter

High density development in an Auckland central city environment that utilises a wide range of typologies.

Example of best practice sustainable building design – uses current best practice passive solar design, low impact storm water design, low energy use building systems and onsite energy generation to have zero net overall energy use.

Zero Energy house

Zero Energy house showcases passive solar design, low impact storm water design, low energy use building systems.

A bird's eye view of the apartment block; there is a patch of lawn with cushions and plants where people can sit and relax.

The Isaac

The Isaac in Grey Lynn demonstrates that high density and high amenity can go hand in hand.

Cohaus

Cohaus is a twenty-unit housing development in Grey Lynn.

Urban design guidance

Places and spaces

Design and consenting processes

Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) Hub

Developing infrastructure

Case studies

Contact us

Glossary

Beaumont quarter

Project information

Design elements

Understanding the neighbourhood

Placing the buildings on the site

Street to the front door

The building

Outdoor spaces

Accommodating the car

Floor plans

Download the PDF

Beaumont Quarter

Related case studies

Kotuitui II

Buckley terraces

Beaumont quarter

Zero Energy house

The Isaac

Cohaus

Keep visiting the ADM as we add to our content and features.

Beaumont quarter

Project overview

Project information

Design elements

Related case studies

Kotuitui II

Buckley terraces

Beaumont quarter

Zero Energy house

The Isaac

Cohaus

Keep visiting the ADM as we add to our content and features.