Kāinga Ora Atkinson Avenue

Responding to Auckland’s demands for new and more intensive public housing provision, Chow:Hill designed a five and six level apartment complex for Kāinga Ora on Otahuhu’s Atkinson Avenue. The new development is well connected to transport hubs, local retail centre, community resources and recreation spaces.

The result is an apartment complex with 83 well-appointed, airy and light-filled one and two-bedroom apartments housing a variety of small and medium whānau groups.

For the new residents, many of whom have moved from less advantageous circumstances the security of a well-appointed home within a supportive community will be life-changing.

Included in the 54 one-bedroom and 29 two-bedroom apartments are accessible units at ground level where residents have access to mobility scooters and a community room for events, activities and celebrations. An outdoor children’s playground is co-located with the shared community space. Well designed and generously planted landscaped spaces, artwork, bike stands and secure off-street parking provide a desirable living environment.

The interior, which combines a simple palette of materials and colour, creates a calming ambience, designed for residents to lay the foundations for a new phase of family life.

Completed in March 2021, Atkinson Avenue is one of many housing projects undertaken by Chow:Hill’s Tāmaki Makaurau studio for Kāinga Ora.

Photography by: Amanda Aitken