Fluidity in form
The repeated wave forms of the building’s exterior.
Organic curves give a retro character to the entrance.
Sonata’s bold, organic form gives it a distinctive street presence.
Each three-bed, single-floor apartment delivers the same amenity as a traditional house.
The north-facing apartments offer views out to the Waitematā and Rangitoto.
Sonata’s fluid exterior is comprised of textured and polished concrete, dark zinc-coloured window and door frames, timber soffits and stone pavers.
The form and scale of the building is sensitive to its neighbours and the natural landform of the bay below.
Pared-down minimalist interiors work to highlight the quality materials and fittings.
Integrated appliances add a sense of understated luxury.
Curves reappear in the bathroom’s circular fittings.
Outdoor living is encouraged through covered balconies and a sheltered garden terrace on the ground floor.
The bold, fluid form of Buchan’s Sonata Apartments in Auckland’s St Heliers deals with the demanding building envelope setbacks in a creative way.
Designed by global architecture practice Buchan, and completed in March, Sonata Apartments is sited on a steep and narrow coastal-cliff, offering views out to Waitematā Harbour and Rangitoto Island.
Buchan’s Auckland principal Rob Guild led the project, working with design principal Todd Crighton. Crighton says the design takes its cue from the coastal spirit and existing character of St Heliers, taking full advantage of the site’s favourable northern aspect.
“Sonata has been sensitively designed to respect the scale of the surrounding homes and present a simple elegance to the street,” says Crighton. “We wanted to visually anchor the building to the site, while working within the demanding building envelope setbacks.”
This was achieved with an exterior of textured and polished concrete, offset by dark zinc-coloured window and door frames, timber soffits and stone pavers. Crighton says the material palette was intentionally simple, with the raw, concrete framework fostering a sense of belonging with the rugged location.
To further minimise the scale of the building at street level, the architects moved the ground floor plane down: “The ground level apartment is set below street level, which reduces the building’s scale at entry level. Behind the public façade, the sloping site allows the apartments to open up to the remarkable northern views and light,” says Crighton.
Floor-to-ceiling glazing on the northern side maximises these expansive north-facing harbour views. Levels two to five include outdoor entertaining spaces whilst the level one apartment has a generous terrace. Each three-bedroom dwelling has direct lift access from the lobby and the basement carpark.
Crighton says the building’s bold, fluid form draws inspiration from the gentle curve of the bay below and is a nod to coastal stone that has been weathered smooth by the marine environment. It also pays homage to the inter-war period architecture chracteristic of the area.
Its layered form enables efficient full-floor apartments that, through carefully considered spatial programmes, deliver the same amenity as a traditional house. The floor plan design provides separation between shared and private spaces, with living areas and balconies projecting out to capture the sun and views. “The cantilevered balconies give a sense of hovering in space, at one with nature,” says Crighton.
Each master bedroom shares the harbour outlook, whilst secondary bedrooms are positioned adjacent to the street-facing corner.
Inside, materials in the Buchan-designed interiors have been selected to exude warm, quiet luxury. Feature walls of clouded white limestone plaster are complemented by a soft palette of timber floors and joinery and natural stone tiling that create a backdrop for the centrepiece marble kitchen islands. Metallic accents and detailing add to the relaxed, sophisticated ambience of the interiors.
Guild says Sonata sets a benchmark for the suburb and the city and suits downsizers and families alike.
“Whole-floor apartments are perfect for couples or families looking for a different lifestyle whilst not compromising on space,” says Guild. “With its distinctive design, unrivalled views, beachside location and lock-up-and-leave convenience, Sonata is a rare offering for Auckland.”
Glasshape collaborated with Metro Performance Glass and NZ Windows to deliver the full-height double-glazed curved glass façade windows.
You can watch a time lapse of the complex construction by CMP Construction here.
See the video to experience Sonata’s interior:
Further reading from Buchan:
What does resilient architecture look like now?
Design critical to NZ housing intensification
