Designed with Purpose – Auckland City Mission HomeGround by Stevens Lawson

Exemplifying design with purpose, Auckland City Mission HomeGround is Stevens Lawson’s architectural response to a vision to end homelessness in central Auckland. Alongside residential accommodation, HomeGround is also a centre for integrated health and community services. Inside, a commercial kitchen, dining room, public showers and toilets, a public medical centre and pharmacy along with spaces for activities and workshops can all be found.

A holistic approach has informed each structural decision. The accommodation and support services have been integrated so that the City Mission team can offer all-round support for the people who live there. Apartments are self-contained so they’re easy to manage, with easy access to communal spaces and private outdoor terraces made safe for people living with trauma.

The accommodation and support services have been integrated so that the City Mission team can offer all-round support for the people who live there.

The conscious design extends to the sustainable way the build has been constructed. Stevens Lawson uses mass timber construction in a new, innovative way by incorporating cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the main structural system of the building. HomeGround is also a leading example of ecological innovation in construction, employing a sort-at-source waste management system and only using non-toxic, locally sourced materials.

HomeGround simultaneously encapsulates how to design with longevity in mind. Utilising overhangs, high-performance glazing, natural ventilation and high thermal envelope efficiency removes the need for air conditioning. The inclusion of vertical planting, urban rooftop food production areas and a greenhouse not only brings green space to the city but also creates a place where residents can connect with nature and improve their wellbeing.

Born from a vision to contribute to the sustainable end of homelessness in Auckland, HomeGround brings a visionary social agenda to life.

Born from a vision to contribute to the sustainable end of homelessness in Auckland, HomeGround brings a visionary social agenda to life. By combining housing and care on the same site to help reduce homelessness in a holistic, sustainable way, Stevens Lawson shows what it truly means to design with purpose.