Luxury $300 million residential skyscraper planned for central Auckland

Monday, 13 March 2017

Artistic rendering of The Pacifica's exterior with the Maori Pikorua twist.

A $300 million luxury residential skyscraper, dubbed The Pacifica, is planned for downtown Auckland.

Construction is expected to begin at 10 to 12 Commerce St at the end of this year and finish by September 2020.

Artistic rendering of The Pacifica, a residential skyscraper planned for the Auckland CBD.

With 57-storeys and 178 metres tall, the building would be New Zealand's highest residential tower.

But a 192m apartment tower is also planned to open in the next three to four years. That building would be 52 storeys on Customs St East.

READ MORE: Apartment tower 'will change city's skyline'

Plus Architecture's leading architect, Jaimin Atkins, said the building's glass facade was designed to reflect the surrounding city and waterfront, and the Maori Pikorua motif of two intertwined pikopiko ferns was meant to be represented in the 'twist' pattern on the building's exterior.

Some of the 295 apartments within the building would have views out to Great Barrier Island, Atkins said.

Prices ranged from $640,000 for apartments to $1.1 million for 'Skyhomes' and penthouses. Apartments would go on sale in April.

Plus Architecture worked with developer Hengyi Pacific, who have developed similar residential skyscrapers in Melbourne with The William a $200m dollar project, Lighthouse, and Swanston Central developments.

Hengyi Pacific's New Zealand manager Liz Scott said it was evident Auckland presented an opportunity for Hengyi to provide high quality housing to meet unsatisfied market need in terms of product choice and quantity.

Hengyi is an affiliate of the mainland Chinese company Shandong HYI.

Apartments above the 21st floor would include enclosed winter gardens, while some lower-level apartments have balconies.

The building plans include amenities like a lap pool, sauna, steam room, spa, gym and yoga studio, resident's lounge, library, and barbecue terrace.

The bottom levels will feature a 35-suite boutique hotel, a high-end restaurant and cafe. A laneway known as 'Pacific Lane' will run between Commerce St, Fort St, and Gore St.