Farmers Mutual Group

Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) is synonymous with rural New Zealand. So, when the farming insurance company needed specific design requirements met for its new commercial premises on Hamilton’s Victoria Street, Chow:Hill proposed a contemporary aesthetic that would fit the group’s brand and reflect rural New Zealand.

Combining natural materials, including cedar slats for solar shading and natural honed concrete panels, with internal glass walls and green and tan hues, Chow:Hill’s design team achieved a soft, welcoming palette for the building.

This inviting aesthetic is reflected in the double height entrance lobby, which connects the building’s two levels and provides transparency with public spaces. The floor plan, which houses 55 workstations, breakout spaces, meeting rooms and utility areas over the two storeys, was designed to be both functional and enhance collaboration, providing a modern work environment for current and future staff.

FMG’s new offices are in striking contrast to the former premises which occupied this central city site. The previous single storey building was demolished to make way for FMG’s new commercial premises, owned by Wallace Development Company Ltd.

Chow:Hill’s design has provided FMG with significant exposure and created a unique design aesthetic on the wider streetscape. The commercial success of the project was made possible through a well-managed collaborative process between owner, tenant and architectural team.