PASSION PROJECT
Architect Graeme Scott has designed an outstanding residence for himself and his wife — and other people will get to live there too, writes DONNA FLEMING
When the developer of a new apartment building is also the architect, and intends on living there, you can be guaranteed it’s going to be something special.
Award-winning architect Graeme Scott has gone into the property development business with his wife Melissa, designing a new residential complex called 45 Mt Eden, because when they were looking for an apartment to live in, they couldn’t find what they wanted.
“We started looking back in 2011 and at that time most of the apartments were shoebox student-style apartments in the CBD or ultra-expensive stuff on leasehold sites,” explains Graeme, who has designed many public and corporate buildings, as well as apartments. “There’s a lot more suitable stuff available now, but back then I thought, being an architect, why not have a crack at [building a development] myself?”
They bought an old brick house used as a commercial property at 45 Mt Eden Rd and after renting it out for a few years, decided to bite the bullet and in 2015 started planning the development of 15 apartments.
Because the project is so important to Graeme, and he’s going to be living there, he’s gone to great lengths to make sure that it is going to be the best it can be. One thing he was particularly keen on was making sure the development fitted into the landscape of the vibrant Eden Terrace neighbourhood.
He’s come up with a striking industrial-style building with five storeys, plus two basement carparking levels.
“I wanted it to be a good piece of urban architecture that fits into this special character area, not something that screams out, ‘Look at me!’,” says Graeme, whose experience includes chairing the Urban Design Forum for eight years and being the deputy convener of Auckland Council’s urban design panels.
The materials that will be used are solid and durable and will help to achieve Graeme’s goal of making 45 Mt Eden sustainable. The building will have a Homestar 6 rating.
“It has been designed to be energy efficient. The roof is covered in solar panels that generate a lot of electricity which will be used for powering the heat pump and hot water system that is central to the whole building.”
Electric charging for cars will be available with each parking space in the basement (where there are also storage lockers). The building will also feature plenty of greenery, as will an adjoining public walkway that’ll lead to the new Mt Eden City light rail station nearby.
Inside, the same attention to detail has been applied.
“We’ve got New Zealand wool carpets, oak flooring, Fisher and Paykel appliances — everything has to be of a high standard,” he says.
Having a maximum of three apartments on each level means each apartment is on a corner, and has been designed to get as much light as possible, as well as a variety of views. There’s a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, with the option to amalgamate two apartments on the fourth floor to create a sub-penthouse. Completion date is expected around the end of 2021.
Graeme and Melissa will be on the fifth floor, and after living in family homes in Mt Eden for over 40 years, are looking forward to being part of an urban apartment-dwelling community.
“We’ll be so close to the train station, to Symonds St and the cafes and restaurants there, plus it’s close to the Domain and also the maunga,” says Graeme. “We think it is a really exciting location.”
Agent Jason Gaddes of New Zealand Sotheby’s International says the quality of 45 Mt Eden is one of the reasons his firm is marketing the project.
“Graeme has put a lot of thought into this and it’s a real passion project — he’s doing it as a lifestyle choice, not as a way of making money.
“Being able to purchase in a development where the developer is also the architect, and will be living there gives you a lot of confidence. Plus it is an outstanding location with a lot going for it. Astute buyers will know that being in this area with all the development going on will reap rewards in the years to come.”
One bedroom from $750,000, two bedrooms from $1,250,000 and three bedrooms from $1,695,000.
Jason Gaddes, New Zealand Sotheby’s International, 021 994 921; Klara Pulceska, 027 551 3955
“The roof is covered in solar panels that generate a lot of electricity which will be used for powering the heat pump and hot water system that is central to the whole building.”