Aptly Done – Jervois Apartments by Artifact Property, Monk Mackenzie and Amelia Holmes

Sitting atop a ridge line in Auckland’s Herne Bay is Jervois Apartments by Artifact Property, Monk Mackenzie and Amelia Holmes. The five-storey structure is immediately intriguing; as an early adopter of a recent zone change allowing for higher density development in the area, it’s one of the first mixed-use projects in the well-heeled suburb traditionally defined by weatherboard homes.

“We purchased the north-facing site at a time when there was an unmet demand for apartments that were bespoke and small-scale in Herne Bay – a leafy suburb with beautiful beaches, restaurants, cafes and design stores,” says Artifact Property Co-Founder Liam Joyce. The team has harnessed restraint in its approach; rather than cram the modest site with compact dwellings, there are seven generous apartments running north-to-south and one penthouse suite. Central gardens punctuate the floor plan and there’s a commercial unit at street level, too. As Liam says, “there are eight apartments in this building, and having just one other apartment on your floor means you truly feel like you’re in a small community rather than in a large apartment building with many different owners.”

As Artifact Property Co-Founder Liam Joyce says, “there are eight apartments in this building, and having just one other apartment on your floor means you truly feel like you’re in a small community rather than in a large apartment building with many different owners.”

Sophie Wylie, Artifact Property Co-Founder, has an architectural background and planned the interiors with the project’s interior designer, Amelia Holmes. They’ve created generous spaces with a particular focus on the kitchen as a place of luxury and utility. Sitting at the northern end of the building and benefitting from impressive views, the kitchens are a big drawcard. A range of Fisher & Paykel appliances are seamlessly integrated behind dark-stained timber cabinetry, while two 60cm Ovens in a sleek black finish complement the minimal aesthetic. The kitchens also feature two Fisher & Paykel DishDrawers, a 90cm Induction Cooktop and an Integrated Insert Rangehood in black glass and stainless steel.

As Sophie says, “part of the design of the kitchen was these vertical modular elements and repetition of the batten handle so we needed to be able to incorporate the appliances within that.” She adds, “that’s why we selected the Integrated Column Wine Cabinet and Refrigerator Freezer, so we could have that continuous, 600-millimetre module.” Natural slate benchtops bring texture and movement to the design and a large island bench ties the elements together. Most notably, the views to the Waitākere Ranges and Waitematā Harbour infiltrate the space, opening the volume and creating apertures.

While this site is modestly proportioned, the project team has cleverly borrowed from the building’s context to craft eight apartments that convey a generosity of space and experience. Pleasingly, the building is eye-catching but not jarring in its bold and contemporary presence, and Jervois Apartments prevails as a fitting mixed-use contribution to Herne Bay.