Located on a corner site being 137 Great North Road, the project reimagines an existing four-level commercial building through adaptive reuse, retaining its concrete structure and distinctive angled columns rather than starting again. This approach reflects the principle that “the greenest building is the one already built”, placing reuse and reduced embodied carbon at the heart of the design.

The existing floorplates are extended to the site boundaries to create more efficient, flexible spaces, while a new upper level maximises the building’s potential and takes advantage of expansive views across Auckland. A new showroom activates the ground floor, with adaptable office spaces above.
Central to the building’s transformation is a new perforated aluminium façade screen. Inspired by its elevated ridgeline position and the idea of mist hovering around the surrounding treetops, the screen wraps the retained structure in a new, almost mystical layer. Its perforated pattern evokes droplets moving across the façade, filtering light, views and glimpses of the existing building behind. As conditions change throughout the day, the building shifts between solidity and transparency revealing what’s in behind.

Recycled materials, including timber, reinforce the project’s focus on reuse and responsible material choices. The building achieves a 5-Star Green Star rating, the project demonstrates how an existing building can be transformed rather than replaced, extending its life while creating a distinctive and sustainable new landmark.