Northbrook: A new ultra-luxury offering for later living
Designed in collaboration with Woods Bagot, Northbrook is a ‘later living’ development set to offer a level of luxury that developer Winton claims New Zealand has never seen before.
Addressing what the developers see as a shortfall in the market for luxury later living, five Northbrook projects are planned for locations throughout New Zealand and curated to replicate the experience of living in a premium hotel.
The first to be built, Northbrook Wynyard Quarter, has been granted resource consent and Australasian developers Winton plan to build four additional projects in waterfront locations in Wānaka, Avon Loop Christchurch, Arrowtown and Launch Bay at Hobsonville Point.
“Our vision for Northbrook is to design an offering for later living that is like living in a five-star hotel with all your friends,” says Winton CEO, Chris Meehan. “It has been three years in the making and we are not only excited but proud to bring the first of five Northbrook locations to the market.”
James Burgess, head of vertical living at Winton, said the vision for Northbrook is to redefine retirement and create a luxurious later living offering unseen in New Zealand before now. He says there has been an absolute determination to get the design, aesthetic and operations just right.
“Our residents enjoy a certain level of luxury in their lives, and this shouldn’t be compromised when they move into Northbrook,” says Burgess. “From the floorplates to the materiality to the aspect, these apartments are tailored to offer an experience that could be likened to a luxury hotel.”
Architects Woods Bagot have been appointed to design the five premium lifestyle developments, featuring residential apartments and high-end amenities that will enable residents to “age in a refined place with dignity”.
The developers say extra care has been taken to protect the existing surroundings, blending native plantings with well-kept gardens and mature growth, to help seamlessly integrate with the landscape.
“In Wynyard Quarter, the vertical village embraces vistas overlooking the harbour,” says Woods Bagot principal and interior design lead Bronwyn McColl.
The upscale interiors feature a signature design language, including timber floors, stone surfaces and quality fixtures.
McColl says each residence is designed for comfort, ease and convenience without compromising on aesthetics, with joinery discreetly designed to be future-proof for ageing in place. “Every space is designed to promote the accessibility and autonomy of the end user,” she says. “Subtle but crucial considerations enable residents to stay in their homes through various life stages, without compromising comfort and confidence.”
Woods Bagot principal and portfolio lead Andy Gentry says Northbrook Wynyard Quarter was designed to connect into the existing laneways, axis and wider green network. “We’ve created vertical neighbourhoods, crafting a collection of differing heights, forms and materials, and creating a sense of place, where residents can see their home from the street rather than a monolithic approach,” he says. “We protected the amenity beyond Northbrook’s development boundary of the special greenspace of Amey Daldy Park by allowing the park to be bathed in sunlight.”
The architects say empathy has been a key driver in the design response, with the precincts engineered to promote social inclusion and maximum mobility, “enabling residents to continue to lead meaningful and engaged lives.”
Amenities promoted by the developers include a concierge, superior dining experiences, whisky and wine bars, a residents lounge and bar, yoga studio, gym, heated pool, spa, infrared sauna, libraries, gardens and workshops. The standalone fine dining restaurant will be open to the wider community, “to maintain the sense of connection the residents are accustomed to,” says McColl.
Northbrook Wynyard Quarter will be made up of 154 residences, including care suites, with a range of 1–4 bedroom apartments and pricing starting from $1.45 million for a one-bedroom and ranging to $13.75 million for a four-bedroom penthouse.
View other Woods Bagot projects here. For more information about the Northbrook developments, visit northbrook.co.nz or visit the Wynyard Quarter show apartment open daily 10am–4pm.