C40 is a global competition initiative to stimulate zero-carbon, sustainable and resilient projects by responding to 10 climate challenges. Auckland City Council was selected for the 2019 edition of C40 with a design competition for the Falls/Alderman pair of sites in the western borough of Henderson.
Both sites are currently asphalted carparks with permissive height limits and the brief called for a desirable and economically viable housing project that would demonstrate local best practice for zero-carbon residential densification.
Studio Nord were part of the Te Kōpua consortium with Sills van Bohemen, Re/volve, Resilio Studio, Tricia Love Consultants, Sust, GWE, and Te Kawerau a Maki that was shortlisted, competed in and eventually won the Auckland C40 competition.
The scheme proposed 68 apartment units of different typologies in varied urban blocks of 4-5 stories with ancillary commercial spaces, a community hub and shared landscaping.
The project rose to the C40 climate challenges with these design strategies:
Efficient building form & thermal envelope
A micro-grid incorporating onsite extensive PV generation and energy storage distributing energy
Efficient centralised hot water production
Low carbon material selections and construction techniques
Systematic management of the ‘3 waters’ as expressed in Te ao Māori - wastewater, stormwater and rainwater
Wastewater processed on site in an innovative ‘living machine’ based on phytoremediation, using living plants to clean up water.
The buildings are expected to be zero carbon, realising a total reduction in lifetime carbon emissions of 97% when compared with a standard development in New Zealand of similar scale and density. The project is currently in the hands of Te Kōpua’s property development partner and is ongoing.
