Phil Redmond Architecture + Urbanism

136 Moorhouse Ave

136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography

136 MOORHOUSE AVE

Phil Redmond Architecture + Urbanism

ARCHITECTS
Phil Redmond Architecture + Urbanism

AREA
2057.0 m2

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hazel Redmond Photography

MANUFACTURERS
Alucobond, Dimond, Foyer, Soffit

LAND SURVEYORS
Access Land Surveying

MAIN CONTRACTORS
Amalgamated Builders Limited, Thermosash Limited

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
TMCo Limited

MECHANICAL, HYDRAULIC ENGINEERS AND FIRE ENGINEERS
TMCo Limited

CITY
Christchurch

CATEGORY
Sport

PROJECT YEAR
2016

COUNTRY
New Zealand

Text description provided by architect.

Located overlooking the proposed Metro Sports Facility at the Western end of Moorhouse Ave on the fringe of the Christchurch CBD, the brief called for a new commercial development with a mix of bulk retail, office space and hospitality.

136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography
136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography

As the new building is on a major arterial route in Christchurch, it primarily experienced while driving. Our design approach was to generate the building as a billboard that shifts dynamically as you drive East or West along Moorhouse Ave, capturing the motorists’ attention.

The building is cast as collection of characters and references to Christchurch’s architectural canon. Amongst others, the cast includes the striped façade of the Antigua Boat Sheds, and the zigzag verandah of Paul Pascoe’s, now lost, Christchurch Domestic Airport Terminal.

136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography
136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography

During demolition of the previous earthquake damaged building on site a large hand painted sign was revealed, ‘The Farmers’.

As this sign would be archived again, between our new building and the neighbours’ existing building, we decided it should to be translated into the design of the façade of the new building.

136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography
136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography

An abstract machine was created to manipulate the vertical sun shading fins and gloss/matt Alucobond panels of the façade through Binary and Morse code to give the impression of a random fin and façade pattern, allowing the ‘The Farmers’ sign to be coded within the new façade.

Functionally, the ground floor consists of a café/restaurant space at the entrance corner. This space opens an outdoor dining area underneath the faceted mirror stainless soffit of the cantilevered floor above.

The remainder of the ground floor consists of large format retail and office space.

The first floor is accessed via a dramatic double height foyer space, which is capped with a large skylight. A faceted wall battened with cedar cascades down from the skylight to the ground.

136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography
136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography

The foyer staircase is defined a blackened steel balustrade which folds into flush into the tiled floor at the base of the staircase.

136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography
136 Moorhouse Ave
© Hazel Redmond Photography


136 Moorhouse Ave
Plan
136 Moorhouse Ave
Site Plan


136 Moorhouse Ave
Diagram
136 Moorhouse Ave
Elevation

Phil Redmond Architecture + Urbanism
T +64 3 3563198
Phil Redmond Architecture + Urbanism
Level 1/68 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand