Albany Stadium Pool

A carefully constructed 4,181m2 complex sits within the Albany recreational precinct, complementing the existing QBE Stadium and adjacent developments. The grounds, landscaped to integrate the building into its surrounding context include sculptural landform terraces, berms and bunds settling the building on the ground, complementing its simple architectural expression.

A range of fully tiled pools with varying water depths were designed to create areas that are appropriate for different age groups. With an emphasis on leisure and learn to swim, the new complex compliments existing facilities in the Albany region, whilst providing a ‘point of difference' within the Auckland Council pools portfolio. A new and distinctive feature are the European style unisex ‘change village' changing sheds which replaced the traditional gender specific rooms. A fitness suite completes the complex.

The deeper, larger pool was designed for teenagers (12 - 18 years). A climbing wall overhung one end, so anyone who fell would splash down into the water. 

In the smaller, shallower pool there's an area for 5 - 12 year olds with a slide and squirting water jets that add elements of fun. At one end of the pool there's a zero depth section for 0 - 5 years to enjoy and play in safely. A spa pool, sauna and Fitness Suite brings an adult focus to the facility.

A new and distinctive feature beside the pools is the European style unisex ‘change village' which replaced the traditional, gender specific rooms. This comprises a series of changing cubicles, lockers, grooming and toilet facilities. Poolside showers are provided alongside the change village, with the intent of reducing showering time and water consumption.

Outside, the grounds were landscaped to integrate the building into the surrounding context. A wide promenade from the Don McKinnon Drive site boundary served as an apron to the building and provided a defined pedestrian route around the car park to the Stadium. A series of sculptural landform terraces, berms and bunds settled the building on the ground and complemented its simple architectural expression.

Public art sculptures created by Korean artist, Seung Yul Oh, includes universal references to water, bubbles and steam. Internally, Tika Creative was engaged to design patterns for the acoustic absorption coverings on the walls. This pattern titled Aramoana (Pathway to the Sea) references traditional Taaniko borders and depicts the access that waterways have traditionally provided to other geographical locations

Archives New Zealand

The 5,000m² Archives New Zealand Repository replaced existing temporary accommodation with a state of the art facility with a 50 year design life. The design has been benchmarked against international best practice intended to protect archived material for future generations.

The architecture recognises the civic importance of this building type and deliberately avoids the 'warehouse' morphology evident in surrounding complexes. Careful consideration has been given to the strict environmental control requirements of the brief, durability and life cycle costs.

Auckland Golf Club

The refurbishment of the Auckland Golf Club built on the existing traditions of the club, and the decision for a sympathetic upgrade, rather than a new building, recognised the iconic architectural character of the clubhouse.

The refurbishment entailed major intervention with regard to the existing building both inside and out, including major upgrades to the structure and fire protection to meet functional and modern code requirements.

Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo is a local landmark, and significant recreation amenity for Auckland residents and tourists alike. Situated in Western Springs, the existing entrance for the facility had become outdated and unable to accommodate the large growth in visitor numbers. Creative Spaces was appointed to design a new face to represent the values of Auckland Zoo in the new millennium.

Creative Spaces worked with the Zoo’s master-planners to prepare a concept plan for the entry complex which overcame the shortcomings of the previous facilities. The concept was predicated on creating a sheltered north facing plaza, large enough to accommodate peak hourly arrivals on a peak attendance day, and represents an innovative departure from conventional planning solutions.

Extensive research into similar visitor and tourism facilities was undertaken to prove the viability of concepts developed for ticketing, ticket validation, visitor circulation, space requirements and the maximization of revenue generation. The new building provides a vastly improved visitor reception, orientation and information facilities consistent with the Zoo’s education and conservation objectives. A new education centre was included in the development.

Copthorne Hotel

The refurbishment of the Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi responded to an increased demand for rooms and a desire to update the aging 1970s architecture. The design solution involved adding an additional floor of rooms and creating an architecture which responds to the sense of place in a physical an historical context. The architectural imagery derives from the colonial architecture of the area, enhanced with a significant landscape treatment aimed amplifying the "resort ambience" of the site.

Dilworth House

Dilworth House is a two storey, 5,250 square metre office building, designed inside and out by Creative Spaces. The 19 metre wide office space is designed around a central courtyard to provide maximum natural light to the optimum efficient width of office space. All facades of the building are composed of a glazing system, with some Hinuera Stone features portraying the solidity of the client, Dilworth Trust Board. Laminated tinted glass affords views across the leafy neighbourhood and Dilworth School fields for the tenants.

Liaison and negotiation with Council on floor area ratios resulted in an extremely efficient use of site area, exceeding originally prescribed limitations and making the development very profitable for the building owner. Structural grids and building widths were based on the most efficient modular office layout. The result is extremely efficient, with very little wasted space.

Dilworth School Sports Complex

The new Sports Complex at Dilworth School satisfies the Dilworth philosophy of “sport for all” by combining in a single facility a complete range of indoor sports to regional level, including a climbing wall and weights room, with support functions for adjacent outdoor sports codes and existing swimming pool. Flexibility was a major component of the project, and careful design facilitates good natural supervision. Storage spaces are accessed directly off the sports floor and the change rooms serve both indoor and outdoor codes. The teaching spaces have been combined with adjoining multi-purpose areas, and placed between the indoor and outdoor sports with spectating facilities for both. The complex is designed to fit comfortably in the architectural tradition of Dilworth School, while at the same time extending that tradition into a modern sporting facility.

Henderson Police Station

Whangaia Nga Pa Harakeke (WNPH) is a shared space between police, local iwi and other organisations. Our team designed it to be inclusive, open and collaborative to reflect how the organisations will be working together to change the community.

The space was reimagined to be warm and welcoming, while achieving the flexibility and functions required by the WNPH team. Bright splashes of colour alongside timber screens, acoustic elements, feature lighting and flexible workstations instil the concept of agile workspaces, allowing staff to work in an open plan environment while giving them the freedom to choose their type of workspace and be more mobile within the team.

The greatest benefit to adopting an agile workspace philosophy is that a space can become more effective, flexible and efficient as it generates a dynamic workforce and brings various parties together.

The refurbishment of the staff café was designed to reinvigorate and add colour and delight to the ‘hub’ of the station.

The spaces was enlarged to bring in lots of natural light and allow for future growth of the station. We envisaged it as an informal meeting space and café, as well as a celebration and relaxation space for all staff to enjoy.

We have used a variety of soft furniture and booths to create comfortable areas for informal meetings and team lunches as well as bar leaners, pod seating and café style tables and armchairs in a colourful palette to enliven the space. The cafeteria spills out onto a refreshed outdoor staff terrace creating a better indoor outdoor flow.

The space will become the ‘heart’ of the Henderson Police Station, an area for staff to meet, learn and connect.

Kerikeri Police Station

GHDWoodhead creativespaces provided full design, documentation and delivery services for the new Kerikeri Police Station. Complying with all national standards and, following consultation with local stakeholders, we have incorporated local Maori Pou carvings in the design.

The design was developed through incorporating Kerikeri’s environmental and heritage influences as major considerations, including stonework, building height, local iwi wishes, planting, and pedestrian considerations. The design integrated local iwi elements through intricately carved Pou Pou, which relate to the history of the area, and the relationship local iwi have with the police and community. We worked together with local police staff to make sure specific police operational elements were incorporated in the design of the new building. This included the need to balance building security while creating a people-friendly front to the building. The planning, finishing and furniture incorporated requirements that are specified in the New Zealand Police National Standards Accommodation Code.

The new station has open plan office spaces with the district HQ upstairs, while the ground level houses the local station. This layout improves operational efficiency while providing maximum flexibility in space utilisation, and the ability to meet future staffing needs.

The building street frontage fuses generous glazing with local Northland bluestone cladding created by local craftsmen. The building stonework was carried out in a similar way to that of the stonework streetscape found through the main shopping centre of Kerikeri.

Light Armoured Vehicle Workshop

This project involved the development, documentation and contract management for this award-winning 2700m2 workshop facility to house a workshop facility for the Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAVIII) for NZ Army at Linton Military Camp.

Taking care to balance the required pragmatism of the industrial structure, and the tacit model of military architecture, GHDWoodhead creativespaces enjoyed exceeding the client’s original expectations. A deliberate separation from the envelope and subsequent exposure of the primary structure has allowed the building to develop its distinct personality.

Keeping the main members of the pin jointed structure (such as the columns and tension braces) in scale and as consistent and economical as possible, we have ensured that otherwise forgotten components such as the end and connection plates, for the cross bracing, have been visually balanced and are proportionate with the military aesthetic.

Aside from the practical requirements of vehicle maintenance, user comfort has been well considered: mechanics enjoy radiant heat from under floor heating and the envelope has been clad in an insulated (prefinished metal clad) sandwich panel, allowing NZDF to reduce the otherwise more onerous size of the respective heating / ventilation plant. Insulated skylights also provide ample natural light to the workshop supplemented by DALI controlled, dimmable lighting when necessary.

The material palette is limited: the exterior is treated as a prefinished steel skin behind the structure, with concrete masonry lined alcoves where it has been ‘punctured’; interiors again enjoy the prefinished steel surface for the workshop itself, but also have an amiable use of Strandboard wall and ceiling linings to create a sense of warmth and NZ identity, alongside the more usual plasterboard wall and ceiling linings.

The facility maintains a secure hospitable environment for the 70+ maintenance staff while maintaining a distinctly ‘militaristic’ appearance, and all the while comfortably achieving the client’s brief for an ‘interesting’ building that they can be proud of.

Long Bay Primary School

The growth in attendance created the intent to construct Long Bay Primary School with a new learning block.

The block has been designed following Ministry’s ‘Designing Schools in New Zealand Requirements and Guidelines’ which provides learning spaces that are flexible, sustainable, creative, supportive and connected.

A narrow footprint building sits among the precinct, maximising the outdoor area in front of the building, whilst minimising the need to cut into the hillside at the back. The elongated proportions of the building allows for natural light and ventilation, as well as taking advantage of the building’s orientation, in relation to predominant winds and views.

Open plan learning spaces on both levels accommodate cross-curricular learning, as well as enabling enquiry based and self-directed learning. Breakout spaces and we areas are connected to general learning space to accommodate small group learning, specialised learning and one on one learning.

Mangere Arts Centre

The Mangere Arts Centre is a multi-purpose community arts centre for the performing and visual arts with a focus of engagement with the youth of the area. Planning is predicated on the desire to give formal expression to the two main threads of the Arts Centre, visual arts and performing arts, setting up a dialogue between the two across an open courtyard. Shared facilities or functions are used to link the two main building components; the galleries and performance space.

Mangere has a long history of habitation, migration and cultivation which is attributable to it's unique geographical and geological circumstances. These in turn lead to concepts about fertility, abundance and portage. Overlaying these ideas is the one of 'Pacificness' - how we address New Zealand's unique identity in the South Pacific and our contemporary adapted society of Maori Polynesian and European cultures.

Manurewa Police Station

Creative Spaces, in association with GHD, have completed the refurbishment of Auckland's Manurewa Police Station. This challenging project involved adding 1200m² of new space to the existing 1050m² Police Station situated on a very tight town centre site.

The existing building was a complex collection of spaces and roof forms. In the refurbishment, the existing single level building was gutted internally and reorganised to house the bulk of staff on the ground floor around a central naturally lit atrium and circulation space.

The additional floor space is predominantly provided on the new first floor which accommodates the lunchroom, lockers, Youth Aid and Community staff. The innovative design solution of an additional storey simplifies the roofscape and construction methodology of the building while retaining excellent interconnection between staff and workspaces. The remodelling has created large open plan spaces providing better staff communication within the Police Station.

McDonalds

Creative Spaces was engaged to develop the design and document the refurbishment of the existing McDonalds Greenlane restaurant. This is McDonaldʼs flagship retail outlet in New Zealand and its refurbishment is intended to embody the latest international design trends that will be incorporated into their stores throughout the country as part of a nation-wide exercise. The project was undertaken on a fast-track, 16-week program, and was completed in late December 2007. The restaurant continued to operate 24 hours a day throughout the refurbishment, apart from a four week period when the kitchen was rebuilt. The completed refurbishment includes new commercial kitchen, dining areas, toilets and childrenʼs play area on the ground floor. The first floor was converted to a national staff training facility and boardroom, while the exterior received substantial redesign to bring the exterior up to date.

Mini Dealerships

As corporate architects for BMW New Zealand, Creative Spaces undertook design of a number of the MINI dealerships following the brand’s international re-launch. The brief was for a youthful and energetic image - a theme which Creative Spaces embraced with extensive use of bright colours, funky furnishings and innovative vehicle displays. Corporate identity was a key element of the brief, and the MINI brand and associated imagery features prominently throughout the showrooms.

Mt Smart Stadium East Stand

Creative Spaces’ design of the East Stand redevelopment at Mt Smart Stadium was in keeping with the existing West Stand, and accommodates 8,000 spectators. A large lounge and eight private suites double as conference and meeting facilities, and change rooms and a gymnasium are provided for the key tenant, the Vodafone Warriors. Office space was also provided for The Warriors, and this overlooks the team gymnasium.

The key benefits of the design were simplicity, flexibility, functionality and cost effectiveness. An innovative method of stitching the concrete bleachers to the structural raking beams eliminated the need for a large amount of cross bracing, and the space under the stand has been used for column free office, gym and function spaces, with the flexibility to change should the future requirements evolve.

North Harbour Stadium

Creative Spaces was the Principal Consultant responsible for the master-planning, project direction, design, documentation and fitout of the North Harbour Stadium. The development consists of a 24 hectare domain which surrounds a multi-purpose Winter Code Stadium as the central feature. The Winter Code Stadium was designed as a state-of-the-art international facility with a spectator capacity of 25,000. A concourse above terrace level provides unobstructed circulation with views of the playing field.

Facilities in the stand include conference and convention facilities; 2 major function rooms seating 1400 and 800 respectively; mobile sound-rated walls providing the capacity to break out into 6 smaller rooms; major kitchen facilities with the capacity to serve full banquet dining; 28 corporate lounges and offices for various sporting bodies.

The unique roof projects 38 metres and spans 180 metres providing cover for 10,000 spectators.

Otahuhu Police Station

Otahuhu Police Station’s new 2,330m2 building was redeveloped to accommodate its 167 staff. We provided project management, architectural design (specifically concept and detailed design) and Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP), electrical, structural and fire engineering services.

Design considerations included incorporating Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) options include the inclusion of a short-term holding cell, four hard interview rooms and future expansion of the station. Future additions to the building would be more design efficient if they were built as adjacent wings, rather than new storeys.

A three storey building was constructed, providing more effective daylight access, better ventilation and was more cost-effective than a large single storey office. Half of the building spanned over the police car park entrance covering the first and second storey.

The design created a compound behind the building, providing a secure carpark area for police teams.  Closed circuit TV around the site along with bars on the fencing and electric gates met the security levels required at access point.

Concrete slabs, with few window openings, were used externally at ground floor level for security reasons and for their damage resistant nature. Curtain walls on the street frontage and a glass semi-circle reception entrance, with planters, lightened the building’s façade at the public access point.

The Accommodation Code prescribed the furniture and colour scheme of the area, though walls were highlighted in Resene Jalapeno to add vibrancy and warmth.  A social club counter top from the old Ōtāhuhu station building was used for a café leaner to reference the team and station’s history.

The completion of the Ōtāhuhu Police Station provided a modern, purpose-built building with facilities specifically designed for the separate teams it housed that met their specific and combined needs. 

It also created a more approachable and user-friendly building for the public. This facilitated their use of the building and contributed to building relationships between the Police as an organisation and the local community.

Pilot Training Facility Ohakea Airbase

The Simulated Training Centre is part of the new Pilot Training Facility at Base Ohakea, accomodating the new Beechcraft Training Aircraft.

The overall project included refurbishing and fitting out the No. 1 Hangar, the adjacent Flightline Aircraft Shelter and associated hard standing, as well as refurbishing the Flight Operations Building.

The complete Pilot Training Facility Project provides a vital training environment for the pilots and includes classroom spaces, associated office spaces and two simulator towers that feature in the exterior form.

The building’s functions are all situated off a centrally-located spine that is intersected by the entry corridor that leads to the No. 1 Hangar through an internal link way. This building stands out on base and highlights the new training facility that is clad in western red cedar and zinc.

Rotorua Arts Village

Rotorua Arts, Music and Cultural Centre is the second historic community centre in Rotorua designed and project managed by Creative Spaces. It is intended to satisfy a need for community arts groups to have a space where they can meet and work, and an 'arts village' image is evoked through the use of a variety of domestic scale roof forms derived from the picturesque arts and crafts character of an existing historic house on site.

Rotorua Library and Children Health Hub

Collaborated with the Lakes District Health Board and the Rotorua Lakes Council, the Te Aka Mauri Children’s Health and Library Hub is now a welcoming facility for all, providing a one-stop hub for learning, inspiration, education and health for everyone in the community.

The refurbished building makes a statement about the community’s identity, reflecting culturally and spiritually appropriate Māori design that showcases Te Arawa and Rotorua’s unique identities. A traditional mahoe entrance leads into the tukutuku meeting house panels with a central poutokomanawa pole and large scale community pride video wall.

Local identity is communicated using unique colours and patterns for each floor, adding cultural richness and meaning throughout the building. The colours used are bright and fresh, chosen to create a vibrant, family friendly environment.

The interior design layout and spatial plans were purposely designed to draw people deep into the building, in order to enhance familiarity and usage. The colours and finishes derived from the framework provided has dramatically changed the interior, making it a bright and fresh space.

Warm timbers and modern brick aluminium trims contrasted with fresh whites and bright feature walls delivers a clean, modern feeling in what was a previously dated and cluttered space. Furniture was chosen for its simplicity of shape and solid hues that introduced bright pops of colour into the space.

The ground floor was developed into a relaxed area, designed to be inclusive for whanau groups of all ages. A warm, wooden tiered seating, with soft cushions in calming colours, provided a relaxing seating space for parents and children, while doubling as an event area for programmes such as author readings.

Another ground floor area was the Community Pride Space, consisting of a large-scale video wall delivered theatre style programmes that created uplifting and educational experiences while sharing community content such as work created by tamariki in the makerspace and community art.

The third floor homes the administration area, providing a functional, light and modern workspace, finished in calming colours. While there were separate workspaces at each end of the floor, common amenities created shared areas where employees could come together as a team.

The combination of multiple functional spaces and new technology, as well as clever restructuring of interior elements allows the space to feel like it fits together entirely within the same shell, while providing welcoming yet practical spaces for both the customers and teams that use the building.

Sanford

Started as a family business in Auckland in 1881, Sanford has grown into a company of nearly 1,600 people. With more than 130 years of sustained growth, Sanford has a sense of pride about its history and is also excited about its future.

GHDWoodhead creativespaces were engaged to deliver the turnkey design and build interior fitout of Sanford’s head-office in Auckland. The office consists of 2 floors located above the Sanford Fish Market and Seafood School within Auckland’s vibrant Wynyard Quarter.

This historic building required seismic re-strengthening to bring it up to standard of building code, and it was during this work that the beauty of the extraordinary brickwork and unique building structure was discovered.

The previous use of the building to smoke fish is still discernible in the uniquely aged colour of the exposed brickwork.

As designers, we chose to celebrate the history; designing a fitout that highlights and complements it, yet embraces the future. The key objective of the fitout was an innovative design that was fresh yet familiar, with a sense of quality and transparency.

The colours, textures and finishes make reference to the maritime theme based around the fish market and seafood industry.

From the utility “boatshed” to the fish scale kitchen splashback, small human touches such as the life ring, and rope screens reinforce the theme.

The slick, black understated reception counter, with vibrant graphic backdrop resolutely brings Sanford into the modern-day commercial workplace. The result is a paradoxically timeless yet historic fitout that is a joy for staff and visitors alike.

Tai Tapu School

In the aftermath of the 2010-2011 Christchurch earthquakes, the New Zealand Ministry of Education (MOE) began a series of Requests for Proposals for Christchurch and Canterbury school rebuilds and expansions.

The objective was to create a dynamic building that provided effective, flexible CLS using a design that captured both the school’s importance within the local community and the area’s past, present and future.

GHDWoodhead creativespaces provided a full suite of integrated design services for this project: master planning, concept design and full design and documentation services, structural, building services and civil engineering. The detailed design work included reviewing the existing masterplan and facilitating its progression to the procurement stage.

Prior to its redevelopment, the school’s existing buildings ran along two sides of the hardcourt game and play area. With the support of the Principal, teachers, community and MOE Delivery Manager, an inverted L-shaped building design was employed. Located on the open side of the hardcourt, it wrapped around this key play area, placing it at the heart of the school.

The final building, with its red corrugated iron materialisation and barn-like design references, successfully achieved the brief of a modern design that referenced both the school and community’s past, present, future, and the rural setting. We completed the design on programme by conducting regular internal design team meetings and with the external project manager and the school. We also conducted weekly site visits to monitor construction and monthly Programme Control Group (PCG) meetings.

Internally, the project was seen by the MOE as a successful blueprint for the provision of effective, flexible CLS that provided large but separate classroom areas, which were inclusive of small and medium sized learning areas within their larger footprint.

Tamaki College Recreation Centre

The Tamaki College Community Recreation Centre was developed in a partnership between the College and Auckland City Council and was designed to accommodate the School's educational programmes whilst also providing for the requirements of a number of community groups. This simultaneous 'dual' use requirement led to careful consideration of access control and flexible space use, resulting in a multi-purpose sports hall that accommodates a number of indoor sports and is able to be subdivided by means of heavy curtains.

The circulation route that links the two entrances (school and community) provides access to all spaces, but can be locked at various points depending on the degree of control required. In addition to the sports hall, the Centre contains a fitness suite, teaching and multi-purpose spaces, change rooms, administration and storage spaces. Passive energy design principles are used to supplement lighting, ventilation and water usage.

Taupo Events Centre

The multi-purpose Taupo Events Centre comprises three international standard netball/basketball courts, spectator seating for 1500 and support facilities. It not only accommodates a variety of indoor sports but, when not being used in this way, it serves a range of community activities. The centre is also linked to the existing baths, enabling integrated management and operation of both facilities. The building set new standards in architectural design locally and created an iconic yet manageable image on a high profile site. The design challenge was to create an area suited to the wide range of activities without compromising the space and lighting requirements of any one of them. A curved roof was an expedient solution that enclosed the volumes required for indoor sports in a very efficient manner. The use of passive energy techniques reflected a better understanding of environmental concerns and user priorities.

Te Puia

With visitor numbers to the Rotorua region increasing steadily in recent years, it was decided that the 40 year old facilities at the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute could take better advantage of local and international tourism by providing a broader cultural experience.

GHDWoodhead creativespaces were commissioned to join a team of consultants, tasked with providing an integrated development proposal that addressed the development of the new weaving and carving schools, interpretive displays and retail facilities in keeping with the existing Marae and geothermal valley.

Full design services including architectural, structural, building and civil were provided by the team. In the completed building, the eight columns supporting the roof of the gallery space represent the eight beating hearts of Te Arawa. The twelve giant columns of the entry structure represent the twelve levels of heaven of Te Arawa cosmology. The spiralling stainless steel mesh wrapping the entry structure represent the awhiowhio – the spiralling ascent to heaven.

With a distinctly cultural flavour, this project required the team to quickly assimilate a high degree of knowledge and understanding of Maori culture, and to implement the Maori theme in a manner that was accurate and respectful, promoting New Zealand and Maori culture in a compelling experience for visitors, without falling victim to commercial imperatives.

Since the completion of the development, Te Puia has continued to attract its existing target market (tour groups) and increased its share of the Free Independent Traveller market.

Te Puia has also been successful in winning awards, namely: NZ Property Council - Tourism and Leisure Award, Excellence, NZIA - Local Award 2007, Origin Timber Design Awards - Supreme Award 2008.

Toia Aquatic Centre

Creative Spaces and a team of specialist consultants were appointed to undertake a review of previous masterplans and prepare designs for the proposed library and aquatic centre to complement the existing recreation centre on the site.

Ōtāhuhu is the location of an important portage for Maori, lying as it does at one of the narrowest pieces of land between the Waitemata and Manukau harbours.  It has long been a meeting point and the vision for the Precinct was for it to be a focal point and hub of community activity

In locating the Library, Aquatic Centre and Recreation Centre within the one building the planning challenge was to encourage exploration of the entire precinct by the various users; the key driver was to get visitors to the heart of the precinct where they can comprehend all it has to offer. This drove the circulation planning to deliver visitors to the point where all circulation routes intersect and where all the offerings; Library, Recreation Centre, Aquatic Centre and outdoor spaces are visible at once.

External materials were chosen for their robustness, durability and to some extent, to be consistent with materials used on the existing Recreation Centre. Internal materials selection responded to similar criteria; pools and pool surrounds are all tiled; change rooms are constructed from concrete blocks with an epoxy paint finish.

Opened on Saturday 8 August 2015 by Mayor Len Brown and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chairperson Lemauga Lydia Sosene, Tōia has allowed Ōtāhuhu residents to come together to swim, play, read and relax. The space and facilities create a hub of activity and focal point for Ōtāhuhu that is vibrant, and conveys a sense of fun, recreation and learning.

Toia Library

Creative Spaces and a team of specialist consultants were appointed to undertake a review of previous masterplans and prepare designs for the proposed library and aquatic centre to complement the existing recreation centre on the site.

The innovative concept of combining a Library, Recreation Centre and Aquatic Centre within one building was to encourage exploration of the entire precinct by the various users; the key driver was to get visitors to the heart of the precinct where they can comprehend all it has to offer.

This drove the circulation planning to deliver visitors to the point where all circulation routes intersect and where all the offerings; Library, Recreation Centre, Aquatic Centre and outdoor spaces are visible at once. It creates the opportunity for "swimmers" to become "readers" and "readers" to become "swimmers", and is exploited in the planning approach where one of the main entries and circulation routes is through the library.

A very important artwork installed above the library ramp is "Spirit Level", by Daniel Clifford. It consists of over 1000 individual, hand blown spheres, each one capturing the breath of an individual member of the Ōtāhuhu community for posterity.

Material selection and interior design focussed on creating a light, airy environment that benefitted from large amounts of natural daylight entering via roof lights and high glazed walls.

TSB Arena

Creative Spaces was commissioned by Wellington City Council to undertake a study to redevelop the Queens Wharf Events Centre with the key objectives of upgrading the facility to improve comfort and enjoyment for patrons, increasing spectator capacity, improving ventilation, providing better integration with Shed 6 and improving access between the ground and mezzanine floors for both equipment and personnel. The new design re-positioned the centre court parallel to the hall’s long axis. Along with improved sightlines, this enabled better distribution of spectators along the long sides of the hall and created the opportunity for additional retractable bleacher seating on the flat floor, parallel with the court sidelines. Spectator capacity was increased from 2133 to nearly 5000, and improved spectator circulation on the western side of the hall presented the opportunity to better acknowledge the Queens Wharf Events Centre’s urban context by making connections to Frank Kitts Park and the city to the west.

Tupu Youth Library

In response to extensive consultation, Tupu was designed to improve local access to library resources and to be the community focus for information and learning. In addition to books, the library provides a large number of computer workstations with access to the internet and other on-line resources. The Tupu library presented a complex design brief which has been addressed by a range of innovative solutions.

The open plaza at the front entry to the building acts as a community gathering space. The building was conceived as an open pavilion in the landscape, carefully integrated into the surrounding park. It is placed in the corner of the park to maximise available recreational space, but also to create the maximum exposure to park views and natural daylight.

The library makes specific reference to the architecture, art and craft of the Pacific and is intended to be a highly visible symbol of the Council’s relationship with its residents. A feature is the use of Polynesian decorative motifs in the carpet, service desks, and painted feature wall panels. Sustainable building practices employed included consideration towards building orientation and shading devices to reduce solar gain. Displacement air conditioning was employed.

Vector Wero White water Park

The Vector Wero Whitewater Park in Auckland is New Zealand’s first purpose-built artificial white-water facility. It’s unique in that it provides a 4.5 m high artificial waterfall, and two water courses.

The 203m Grade 2 course is used by the community and schools for recreation, while the Olympic standard 294m Grade 4 course supports high-level canoe/kayak slalom training, commercial rafting and world-class canoe and kayaking events.

A concrete-lined pond provides storage for up to 22 million litres of water, fed from an on-site bore and harvested rainwater. It feeds the two courses via a large pump station, housing seven pumps, and is capable of delivering simultaneous water flows of 16 CU m/sec to the Grade 4 course and waterfall, and 10.5 CU m/sec to the Grade 2 course.

The approach is consistent with the project’s philosophy of sustainability and appropriate use of natural resources. The water is treated from an onsite treatment plant using filtration and UV disinfection. The courses themselves are constructed from cement-treated clay, and lined with shotcrete.

Grades, drops, groynes and obstacles are used to generate the rapids in the channels. Each rapid can be tuned to provide optimum flow by moving the relocatable obstacles on the channel floor.

The end result is an exceptional white-water facility for the local community that attracts national and international visitors to the area for the benefit of local businesses.

Vodafone Events Centre

Set in the heart of Manukau City, the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre was designed to promote the cultural diversity of its community. Creative Spaces contributed to the master-planning of the site and the architectural design of the theatre, indoor arena, outdoor arena and plaza. Particular care was taken to ensure that the design process took into account the range of cultures making up the local community – the ‘Pacific’ theme was developed in consultation with these communities and resulted in artwork created in collaboration with local artists and iwi. The project brief stipulated that the events centre must have an iconic presence as a public facility, reflecting the diverse culture of the people of Manukau, and create a sense of belonging and community ownership. The building also needed to cater for the complex functional requirements, and be built on time, to budget. The completed project satisfied all of the briefing requirements.

Westlake Girls High School Courts

In looking at the comfort and safety of its pupils and players, a concept and detailed design for an all-weather cover was prepared for Westlake Girls High School.

A fabric covering stretches over curved, steel trusses, accommodating four netball courts and six tennis courts. This provides pupils and players with a functional and iconic structure braced for any weather condition.

A series of flying compression struts sitting in-between each pair of trusses adds additional structural shaping to the design, creating its iconic aesthetic. Situated alongside the northern motorway, this striking facility has become somewhat of a landmark on Auckland’s North Shore.

Excellent conditions for night play are provided by an indirect lighting scheme, reflecting light off the underside of the fabric, providing glare free light for national standard play.

WestWave Aquatic Centre

Creative Spaces led a team of consultants for the development of a leisure pool complex, adjacent to the existing competition pools. Included in the West Wave complex is a wave pool, “learn-to-swim” pool, lazy river, tots pools, hydrotherapy pool, spas, sauna, steam room, new change rooms, administrative areas, meeting spaces and a fitness suite. The theme for the complex was based on the natural aspects of Waitakere.

The eco-friendly policies of Waitakere City were implemented in a number of ways, for example, rainwater collected is stored in a large underground tank and used for backwash purposes. Water is treated using an ultra-violet system and solar heating is used to heat the water.