Newtown Park Apartments

Originally constructed from 1967 on the site of an old tram depot, the Wellington City Council rental housing at Newtown Park consists of three large towers and two lower buildings. All have undergone extensive upgrade and refurbishment to bring them up to current Building Code requirements and to improve safety and security.

At the same time, other design features of the buildings and the surrounding landscaped grounds have been addressed; in particular, the project focussed on giving each tower building more of a distinct identity and a clearly recognisable entry. In response to the changing demographics of tenants, the number of family-sized units has been increased, particularly on the ground floors where units have direct access to outdoor areas. A careful and thorough analysis of the existing built fabric has produced a cost-effective design that has created unit typologies much better suited to tenants.

Externally, public, semi-private and private space are now more clearly delineated and outdoor areas are strategically linked to the surrounding sub-urban context. Landscaping work has also been influenced by design principles such as crime prevention through environmental design, improving safety and security for residents.