Grand Opening: Ebbett Audi & Volkswagen, Hamilton

The new Ebbett Audi and Ebbett Volkswagen dealership has been described as an eye-catching landmark, located at the northern edge of Hamilton East. Both Audi and Volkswagen brands have strong corporate identities which set their products apart; focusing particularly on the customer experience, vehicle display, showroom material and finishes selections, including their architectural form. The challenge was to bring these two identities together while maintaining a cohesive architectural relationship for the overall development that suited the existing site.

The dealership is comprised of two eight-car showrooms, shared workshop and parts facility each designed to specific corporate identity guidelines. The showrooms have been positioned on the street front to give a high street retail experience. Chow:Hill's design team developed a scheme that puts focus on the public realm and architecture of the showrooms, where the transparency offers activation and interest, rather than simply putting focus on the cars alone. Connecting the two showrooms together is Café Osten, which has its own identity as a stylish, high-end café that complements and reflects the soft landscape elements in its interior.

Many plaudits to Brian Rastrick who worked closely with the Ebbett Group, the vehicle importers European Motor Distributors and the corporate identity (CI) architects from each brand to develop the scheme from a bulk and location study to a developed design concept to the finished product it is today.