In an urban landscape filled with harsh, cold greys, The Kubrick is a living work of art that will bring warmth and colour to Auckland city, now and in the future.
It’s the latest residential development from industry leader Ockham, comprising 52 two, three and four-bedroom homes built around a central European-style courtyard. Bold colour schemes are an Ockham signature move, with Ponsonby’s The Greenhouse’s iridescent, green-glazed bricks a true city highlight.
This time, as Ockham co-founder and development manager Mark Todd explains, the team were inspired by the hydrangea, when designing the unique new Freemans Bay building.
“The hydrangea is a very common flower in the area’s old villas and comes in a range of hues, from pink lavenders though to light and quite vivid blues.”
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As a nod to these vibrant colours of nature, The Kubrick will be crafted from handmade bricks from Italy’s Sant’Anselmo in 12 different variations of the shades.
“The bricks are triple fired – once as the clay, then the colour is fired on to the brick and a lustre glaze is done on the third firing.
“It’s a bit like mother of pearl and reflects like oil on water, so you get these beautiful pinky blue soap bubbles of reflection that tie the colours together as you walk towards the building.”
The Kubrick is also enveloped in decorative metallic aluminium powder coated panels adorned with hydrangea abstracted patterns pressed into them. This distinct deviation from standard, predictable urban design was done with intent and purpose, says Todd.
“We want to liven the city up. It’s been a tough five or six years for society and particularly cities, with the pandemic and the aftermath and the politics.
Rachel McLean, of Harper Interior Design, has picked every element of The Kubrick’s interior to feel timeless and elegant. Image / Artist's Impression
Ockham co-founder and development manager Mark Todd says the team was inspired by the hydrangea when designing the new Freemans Bay building. Image / Artist’s Impression
“So we wanted to do something with a bit more warmth and loving – there’s many European and African cities where colour is at the centre of architecture. We want to bring some colour to our beautiful city and an unashamedly feminine aspect to the aesthetics.”
The special location is befitting of such a landmark design and Todd says it’s the best site he’s ever developed.
“It’s only got one neighbour and that’s the Freemans Bay Community Centre. The north and west side front on to the Harry Dansey Reserve and the south side is protected too, as it fronts on to Anglesea Street. You’re looking out at the CBD and the Sky Tower at night and you’re surrounded by 1000 trees.
“I was almost going to call the building New Titirangi because all you can see in every direction is trees, no matter what apartment you’re in.”
Ponsonby, K Rd and the CBD are all an easy stroll away and three levels of screened, above-ground carparking provides options for those who need to travel farther afield. The 120sqm, white brick courtyard in the centre of the building creates not only a sense of European romance, but lets light and fresh air into all the corridors so it doesn’t feel like a hotel.
Common facilities include a heated plunge pool, air conditioned gym, yoga/Pilates/PT room, sauna, ice bath and a cinema named The Stanley Theatre. Image / Artist’s Impression
Todd also says the apartments are Ockham’s best floor plans to date and they took feedback from the popularity of the larger apartments at The Greenhouse.
“We’ve managed to do some really creative, flexible floor plans and there’s a lot of choice in the building. They range from 60sqm as the smallest right through to nearly 300sqm, with many around 160sqm.”
Rachel McLean, of Harper Interior Design, has picked every element of The Kubrick’s interior to feel timeless and elegant.
The walls are finished in a light, textured plaster, complemented by custom carpets in the burgundies and soft mauves of a hydrangea. Kitchen and bathrooms are exquisitely detailed, with beauty as well as functionality at the forefront of the design.
“It’s a building that’s been well thought-out, with high quality design and workmanship throughout. It’s also probably best in the city in terms of its allocation of community spaces.”
McLean says The Kubrick is “well thought-out, with high quality design and workmanship throughout”. Image / Artist’s Impression
The extraordinary 600sqm of common facilities incorporates a heated plunge pool, air conditioned gym, residents lounge with a full kitchen, yoga/Pilates/PT room, sauna, ice bath, a dedicated work from home space and of course, a cinema and nod to the man himself – The Stanley Theatre.
“Stanley Kubrick’s films are avant garde and look to the future and his attention to detail and fastidiousness is legendary. Ockham has a history of naming buildings after critical thinkers and Kubrick’s passion was to never do the same thing twice.”
Todd says Ockham has always been in the leadership space and that connection remains the beating heart of their ethos.
“Every one of our 21 buildings has never been done before in one aspect or another and this one is really about leading our city into what the future might look like.
“People often ask me what good urban regeneration looks like. Great buildings create an emotional connection between the residents and the community it sits in. After 17 years of doing apartments, that’s what success looks like.”
- Sponsored by Ockham
