Wingate Architects | Design Team

While working as an Associate at Wingates, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to substantially reconsider and redesign the façade of 2 Devonport Road, developing an earlier scheme into a more considered architectural response to its rather remarkable setting.

A central part of the design thinking was finding the right balance between generous glazing, natural light and the need to capture the exceptional outlooks across the Tauranga Estuary, the harbour and, in the distance, Mauao, the tūpuna maunga more widely known as Mount Maunganui. These are not simply views to be framed, but an important part of Tauranga's identity and the experience of being in this place.

My involvement extended across the detailed architectural composition of the façade. This included developing the colour palette and tonal relationships between the vertical fins and glazing, refining the setting out and spacing of the glass panels and fins, and establishing a more considered visual rhythm across the building's elevations. Attention was also given to the placement and design of the building signage, ensuring it sat comfortably within the overall composition rather than becoming an afterthought.

At street level, I also developed the design of the Devonport Road entrance canopy, giving the principal entry a clearer architectural presence and a more welcoming relationship with the footpath. This work continued inside, with the redesign of the main entry lobby and the upper-level lift lobbies. These shared spaces provided an opportunity to carry the architectural thinking beyond the exterior, creating a more cohesive arrival experience and a consistent design language throughout the building.

Sitting at the prominent corner of Devonport Road and The Strand, the building occupies an important position between the commercial heart of the city and its waterfront. I wanted the architecture to acknowledge both, with an openness and transparency that gives the building a stronger relationship to its surroundings.

The wider development brings together commercial workspace, retail and hospitality, contributing to the continuing revitalisation of Tauranga's city centre. For me, the real value of the redesign was the opportunity to make a more considered connection between the building and its setting, recognising that the landscape beyond its walls is every bit as important as the architecture itself.