Material Focus: The Helier
The residents’ lounge in Warwick Lovely Moss and Bowie Chair in Warwick Lovely Cinnamon.
Franklin high back chairs are in Warwick Tritan Lexie Cinnamon in the care library.
Cushions are from the Warwick Weave range (Tobacco, Midnight, Ocean, Moss, Olive and Khaki) and Tatami Shadow.
Tessa Pawson of Peddlethorp discusses one of the practice’s most recent projects for long-standing client Oceania and the thinking behind its interiors.
The Helier represents a shift for your client in terms of the market they’re meeting. Tell us about the brief.
Tessa Pawson (TP): When Oceania engaged us to create a high-end retirement residence on the St Heliers ridge with views across the Waitematā, the brief was to design bespoke apartments and social spaces where locals who love the St Heliers lifestyle would want to spend their later years. The Helier is the first of its kind for Oceania — while the resident experience is always first and foremost, this project ups the ante in terms of service and amenity, and the result is a unique offering, more reminiscent of a luxury hotel than a retirement village.
Your intent was for the interior to establish a dialogue with the exterior surroundings. How did you go about this?
TP: The interior design takes its cues from the village’s beachside location. When you enter The Helier, you’re greeted with a sophisticated, luxurious environment with bespoke details and quality materials and finishes. Herringbone timber floors border pure New Zealand-wool custom-made rugs, walls are hand-rendered with polished plaster and a grand marble fireplace is at the heart of the main lounge area. This rich materiality flows through the building, where spaces are designed for socialising as well as to provide quiet corners for relaxing and reflecting, all with a stunning outlook.
How did Peddlethorp collaborate with Statement iD on this project?
TP: To achieve our vision for these social areas, we worked closely with Statement iD to curate a collection of beautiful furnishings and artwork to sit comfortably in the spaces. In the double-height residents’ lounge, furniture and fabrics were selected to create a variety of seated areas, which feel intimate and comfortable within the volume of the space. While the dining area, wine library, café and cinema are furnished as unique areas, they all speak of the same sophistication.
How did you arrive at your choice of fabrics?
TP: For the many locally manufactured furniture pieces, Warwick Fabrics was an obvious choice because of its wide selection of quality and durable fabrics that are readily available and at a cost-effective price point. The 79-apartment project also features a 32-room care residence, with common lounge and dining areas. It was important to Oceania that the care element of the development didn’t feel any less luxurious. In these spaces, we were able to recreate the sophistication of the main amenity areas by selecting matching fabrics in the Tritan range.
See more in the Material Focus series, including inspiring interiors: Waka Kotahi NZTA by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott, Picnicka by CTRL Space, Arvida by Stack Interiors, Gulf Rise by Urban Lounge, and more, here.
ArchitectureNow and Architecture NZ work with a range of partners in the A&D supply sector to create appropriate content for the site. This article has been supported by Warwick Fabrics.
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