Carbonic Ice Apartment
Our clients bought this former fishing company warehouse with the intention of creating a unique urban home for them and their children when in Wellington.
Complete re-strengthening was needed for this heritage building. The brief called for a comfortable, stylish west facing apartment, with an open, flexible and dynamic series of spaces that would allow plenty of opportunity for quiet times and big gatherings too.
The interior is planned around the central staircase, giving a fluid and sculptural sense of space. Bathrooms are discretely placed out of view. Two bedrooms occupy the former loft storage spaces, each with its own unique outlook. Off the master bedroom, a roof terrace offers views out to the industrial hinterland and western hills beyond, and a glance down to the lounge below.
The original concrete and brick structure has been retained and paired with new plywood, recycled vertical timber, raw steel and glass. A suspended fire enables different inside areas as well as the courtyard, to be enjoyed at all times of day in summer and winter.
This project was built by Nathan Dewes Construction.
AWARDS:
Winner: NZIA Resene Local Architecture Award 2020 (Housing Alts & Adds)
Published In:
TESTIMONIAL:
Our journey with John Mills Architects started with a run down fish factory that was housed within an old, original 1939 brick building in Petone. It was hard to see the potential at times and did we really want to be involved with such a complicated process? John’s enthusiasm and creativity enabled us to envision the final result way before it happened. John and his team (Mark and Jason) were so helpful and patient with us and between us all the decisions were made.
The end result is so unbelievable and beautiful – it’s a secret, urban paradise that we could not have believed would ever eventuate.
