Our current project with Ockham Residential is looking to lift the game of how apartments are being developed in Auckland.
The working title for the project “Garden Apartments” says a lot about one of the key differences between this and many other apartment developments in Hobsonville Point or Auckland beyond.
Ockham’s co-founder Mark Todd wanted to include lots of green space by dealing cleverly with carparking. Early on, he made the decision to locate the carparking in the basement and first floor of the largest apartment block. This one decision means the development boasts a green space coverage of 35%, which is significant compared to the 0% required by the Hobsonville Point development plan and compared to what is being built by other companies in the area.
This green space is where GreenBridge comes into the project as designers.
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Above: Part of the concept design for the spaces between the buildings for the Ockham project at Hobsonville Point, Auckland.
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As well as designing a beautiful environment that has easy access around the site, GreenBridge’s role is to connect the residents to a beautiful nature-scape, and create a shared space which supports community enhancement.
Some of the features include a children’s play area, community vegetable gardens, and composting areas. Our design considers low maintenance solutions, integrated rainwater collection, and soaks in as much stormwater onsite as possible…
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Above: The overall concept design for the Ockham project, Hobsonville Point, Auckland.
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An array of resources are being referenced in the discussions the extended team are having around the project, including the the seminal book "A Pattern Language", which considers human-centred design in planning. And following a discussion on how we can use design to positively impact the problem of isolation experienced by a growing number of kiwis, we brought the Ockham team's attention to an amazing new book "Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well Being" - published last year by NZ author Gale Souter-Brown.
To read more about this project and see more images, check out our latest blog.
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WASTEWATER AND EDIBLE LANDSCAPES
We recently completed a wastewater design (above), integrated with a yet-to-be-planted edible landscape, for a site in inland North Taranaki.
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Greywater from laundry and bathrooms will be filtered through GreenBridge's own MulchFilter unit, and soaked into the ground to support fruit trees and vege beds. Greywater from the kitchen goes to two mulch basins, surrounded by herbs, berries, and veges.
Below: Nearer to the coast, greywater mulch basins can be planted with water-loving subtropicals, like the mulch basin below near New Plymouth. Taro, bananas, edible ginger!
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EXCLUSIVE EXPO PRICES
ONLY AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND.
$500 discount for our Basic Design Service.
$750 discount for our Sustainable Design Service.
$1000 discount for our Regenerative Design Service.
These prices are only available this weekend at the Taranaki Home & Lifestyle Expo when a $1000 +GST deposit payment is made. Come and see us!
OR, book your free initial consultation at the Expo … and get a free fruit tree.
AND, anyone who joins our mailing list at the Expo will go in the draw to win a gorgeous basket of local food, products, and crafts....
The basket is packed with amazing goodies from local growers and artisans: Nashinui juice, Laughing Pug coffee, Cake Diary cake, Love & Light candles, Nature Nuture lotions and soap, Big Jim's lemon tree - locally grown, Taranaki SeedSavers seed packs, GreenBridge voucher $250, Koanga Garden Guide, Sids Sauce, Avonstour kombucha, Blueberry Patch jam, garlic braid from Dee Turner's Go Organic course at WITT, Eternal Essence healing cream, and MacSnack macadamias.
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Above: The growing basket of local goodies that is up for grabs at the Home and Lifestyle Expo.
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Scroll through recent posts on our facebook page for more pics and details.
The Expo is Friday 15th April, Saturday 16th April, Sunday 17th April, at TSB Stadium in New Plymouth.
www.homeandlifestyleexpo.co.nz
FREE TALKS AT EXPO
The GreenBridge team is also doing some free 45min talks at the Expo:
"Food Forests" on Fri 15th April at 4pm.
"Shelterbelts" on Sun 17th April at 1pm
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PARTNERSHIP WITH BIG JIM'S GARDEN CENTRE
We are really pleased to announce that we are now partnering with Big Jim's Garden Centre, to provide their customers with an integrated design, supply, & installation service, alongside Yards Ahead Landscaping.
So ask at Big Jim's, or contact us to find out more...
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EXPERT ADVICE... MONTHLY ARTICLES
Check out our latest article in Taranaki Daily News Property Weekly (below), sharing expert advice about integrating animals into your garden.
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