The Citizen Apartments combine style, personality, flexibility and astute design
The Auckland housing boom
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. During the past decade, the sprawling urban cityscape has seen extreme levels of population growth which have resulted in a subsequent housing boom. Such extraordinary increases in property prices have fuelled new housing developments throughout the region. The transformation of Auckland to one of the most livable and desirable cities has gathered pace over recent years. So too has the attraction and demand for inner city living. It offers convenience, the buzz of city life and relief of minimal commuter travel and cost.
Shifting demands and preferences reflect a change in taste and requirements
As more people move towards the city centre, so too does the demand for high end housing. The traditional ‘kiwi dream’ was all about owning your own house on a sizable section of land. However, this has changed in recent years – many new residents to Auckland prefer to be closer to their jobs and not need to worry about getting stuck in traffic every day. Other factors that are influencing the shift towards apartment living include the low-maintenance aspect of shared spaces (no need to mow your lawns, clean the outside of your house or worry about a myriad of other household chores) and lower cost base of buying into an apartment building rather than purchasing freehold land on a non-shared title.
Transformation – from old offices to modern appeal
The Citizen project located in Newton, Auckland was developed with this appeal in mind. The contemporary apartment-style building offered boutique finely-appointed and flexible living spaces. Comfort, personality and aesthetic satisfaction all rolled into one beautiful building. Prior to becoming a luxury apartment complex, The Citizen was a four-level office building. Construction involved converting and adding floors to the existing structure. High stud and quality fixtures and fittings were specified for a discerning clientele. Creating a distinctive point of difference for The Citizen was important. As was introducing character and appeal to the newly-created living spaces.
Innovative textiles put the finishing touch on a stunning project
To combine functionality with beautiful design, the developers engaged Muros to provide aesthetically pleasing wall panels. Muros White Loft Brick offers a warehouse-style aged brick finish. Think of a New York apartment texture that features painted white brick. In a city-fringe area, these artificial bricks provided much needed authenticity to ground the modern development into its surroundings. According to Muros, they are, “Not a cookie cutter design, the bricks are detailed with nicks, chips, cracks and elements of natural wear and aging found in established brick walls. Brick rows alternate between full bricks and half bricks, adding variation and originality.”
Muros‘ products were selected for The Citizen to bring a contemporary but homely feel to inner city apartment living. Wall panel durability was demonstrated with installation externally up to a height of five floors. It became evident early on that these wall panels were versatile, and could be used for a range of different surfaces – such as balconies, beams and narrow soffits.
Learn more about the developer
Urban Collective is a renowned Auckland-based property development company. They “create sustainable and authentic developments that are attainable, urban builds, providing a genuine alternative to traditional housing.”
“As many new homeowners are choosing apartments, due to the convenience, cost and location, we work to design apartment spaces that improve living experiences and meet our clients needs.”
To find out more about the innovative range of architecturally designed wall panels, check out the Muros product page.
