Apartments and Townhouses
Maximizing Value
& Delivering Excellence in Residential Development
At Guy Evans Architects,
we specialize in delivering high-quality, commercially successful residential
developments that maximize site potential, secure planning approvals
efficiently, and create homes that stand out in the market.
Unlocking the Full
Potential of Your Site
Our expertise ensures
that every site is optimized for the best possible yield and layout, balancing
density with high-quality design to enhance both profitability and livability.
Planning Success with
Intelligent Design
We understand the complexities
of the planning system and design strategically to align with local policies
while pushing for the best outcomes. Our approach increases approval rates,
reduces delays, and helps navigate potential objections.
Creating Desirable,
Market-Driven Homes
Architect-designed
homes sell and rent faster, command higher values, and create a lasting
reputation for quality. We craft living spaces that buyers and tenants actively
seek out—prioritizing light, volume, and strong connections to outdoor space.
Cost-Efficient &
Buildable Solutions
We design with
construction efficiency in mind, ensuring our schemes are not just visually
compelling but also cost-effective to build. By refining material choices and
detailing early in the process, we help reduce waste and control costs.
Sustainability That
Adds Value
With growing demand
for energy-efficient, future-proofed homes, we integrate sustainable strategies
that reduce operational costs and enhance long-term asset value, aligning with
both regulatory requirements and market expectations.
A Partnership That
Strengthens Your Brand
We work
collaboratively with developers who recognize the value of great design in
driving both financial and reputational success. Partnering with us ensures
your developments stand out, attract discerning buyers, and set a benchmark for
quality in the market.
Let’s discuss how we
can add value to your next project.
Below we showcase some multi-unit dwellings we have worked on throughout Aotearoa.
Christchurch Townhouses
This distinctive Christchurch site called for a thoughtful design that offers high-quality townhouse living near the revitalized city center.
Our brief was to create four adjoining townhouses on a prime site in Christchurch Central.
The design maximizes unimpeded eastern views over the local bowling club, allowing the master bedrooms to capture the morning sun. To the west, a public park — protected from future development — acts as an extension of the front yard, with living spaces on both levels opening onto this unique green outlook. Given the elongated footprint of the townhouses, a central courtyard open to the sky introduces natural light into each unit’s core. Skylights are strategically positioned along the circulation path, enhancing the openness of the living spaces.
Wellington Apartments
This project involved modernizing an apartment and its associated services within a heritage Art Deco building in Oriental Bay, originally designed by architect Edmund Anscombe in the 1930s.
The primary objective was to revitalize the apartment, bringing it up to 21st-century standards while respecting its architectural heritage. The layout was reconfigured for clarity and openness, with the original servant’s kitchen—once tucked away in a back corner—relocated to connect seamlessly with the living area.
A significant design move was linking the master bedroom to the living space, enhancing the owner's lifestyle and allowing morning sunlight to filter into the kitchen and living areas through translucent sliding doors.
Inspired by the stacked shipping containers visible across Wellington Harbour and the bold Art Deco language of the building, these sliding doors introduce a dynamic interplay of light and form. In the evening, they can be backlit to cast a soft, diffused glow.
Throughout the apartment, backlit translucent materials were carefully incorporated to brighten darker interior spaces with a uniform, ambient light.
In collaboration with structural engineers, we also explored strengthening options to enhance the building’s resilience while remaining sympathetic to its heritage character, ensuring greater durability in the event of earthquakes.
Auckland Apartments
Auckland is experiencing rapid growth, with its population expected to double in the coming decades.
In response, we entered the New Zealand Institute of Architects design competition to explore a new typology for apartment living on a unique inner-city site — situated at the intersection of a motorway, a railroad, and a rare Norfolk Pine that inspired both the building’s name and form.
Perched on a volcanic plateau, the apartment building stands as a bold marker overlooking Auckland.
Once an overlooked site, it now defines a dynamic industrial crossroads where key arterial routes converge into the evolving heart of New Zealand’s fastest-growing city.
More than just a gateway, the design sets a precedent for a new model of inner-city living. This mixed-use development integrates a proposed ground-floor restaurant and incorporates sustainable features that minimize its carbon footprint, reducing reliance on the city's infrastructure while enhancing urban livability.
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