warren and mahoney transforms new zealand warehouse into three-story office building

warren and mahoney architects has transformed a brick and concrete warehouse in auckland, new zealand, into the mason bros, a three-story commercial building with office and mixed-use spaces. part of the firm’s larger wynyard quarter innovation precinct project, which consists of the redevelopment of the entire area and 48,000 sqm of high quality, sustainable office space, the project delivers approximately 5,700 sqm of commercial areas over three levels, with lower and upper levels connected via triple height spaces.all images © simon devitt

while retaining the existing building fabric in order to create an authentic link to the industrial legacy of the site, warren and mahoney architects has punctuated it with contemporary glazing elements that offer glimpses into the renovated interior. ‘the conceptual approach is to suspend a highly reflective glazed object within the existing volume (separated spatially from the brick and concrete enclosure on three sides), creating a strong formal and material contrast while amplifying the presence of the existing fabric,’ notes the firm, whose offices span across new zealand and australia. the original building’s dramatic saw tooth roof drops south light into a 60-meter long internal lane, which serves as the main circulation route and provides an internal pedestrian link at a masterplan level. at the same time, the use of highly reflective gold glazing within this lane creates an intentional spatial ambiguity and blurs the boundaries between new and old.

mason bros encloses approximately 5,700 sqm of commercial floorspace spreading across three levels, where lower and upper levels are connected via triple-height spaces. ‘the project is spatially courageous, reinventing the expected commercial paradigm in favor of a bespoke and spatially fluid approach befitting the unique opportunity of the building,’ adds the firm. the building was awarded both a 6 green star rating and a 5 star nabersnz rating, new zealand’s first to achieve the highest possible rating for environmental impact from the new zealand green building council.