The Pacifica Penthouses: Sky-High Luxury Living

Inside, the natural materiality creates tactile residences that double as oases from the urban buzz beyond, with a focus on functionality and liveability.

Its facade reflects the deep sapphire of the harbour nearby and Auckland’s cinematic blue sky, and its unique external pattern mirrors the narrow laneways from which the building rises. The structure is a testament to Hengyi’s commitment to placing human experience at the crux of thoughtful design, one that respects location and context. A lodestar for New Zealand architecture, Pacifica offers a new mode of living which takes advantage of the urban amenities that unfold below, while offering a private sanctuary above.

Inside, the natural materiality, which includes timber and stone, creates tactile residences that double as oases from the urban buzz beyond, with a focus on functionality and liveability. World-class amenities smooth the way for easy living, including a 24-hour concierge and valet parking, as well as leisure facilities such as a heated open-air pool, sauna, steam rooms and spa rooms. The striking criss-cross pattern on the facade nods to the Māori pikorua motif, a symbol of the path of life and the relationships we share with others throughout our life journey. This community ethos is fostered within the building via village-like comforts such as an on-site top-of-class gym, library, communal lounges, a cinema and barbeque area. Hengyi’s forward-thinking vision casts an eye towards the future, with the inclusion of electric vehicle chargers.

The three-way collaboration places light and levity at the forefront of move-in-ready Apartment 5402’s design, with functionality and refined luxury holistically built into every element.

Crowning the Pacifica are two prestigious penthouses on levels 53 and 54, testaments to the integrity and fluidity of the collaboration between Hengyi, Plus Architecture and Coco Republic, which supplied furnishing and finishes. The design of both spaces was steered by the ancient Japanese concept of wabi sabi: a celebration of imperfection via natural materials and an authentic connection to the environment. Tranquillity and serenity are nurtured through tactile materials framing unparalleled 180-degree views of Waitemata Harbour, Auckland city, Rangitoto Island and beyond.

This three-way collaboration between architect, developer and Coco Republic places light and levity at the forefront of move-in-ready Apartment 5402’s design, with functionality and refined luxury holistically built into every element. Floor-to-ceiling windows and low-line seating invite the cityscape inside, where light, an off-white colour palette and a cannily articulated floorplan are manipulated to create an inviting oasis. The hard edges of the city and the impenetrability of sophisticated treated metals, travertine, light timber flooring and naturally veined marble are tempered with Coco Republic’s use of plush cream bouclé furnishings, soft velvets and warm-toned leathers.

Tranquil views unfold beyond the apartment, which is imbued with a warm, timeless elegance that reflects the apartment’s front-row seat to each morning’s sunrise.

Marrying function with aspirational form, the 355-square-metre Apartment 5402 boasts four sumptuously sized bedrooms – with two master-sized rooms – each with an ensuite, plus a further powder room. There’s a space that can be reimagined as a study room, as well as an expansive laundry, butler’s pantry and cocktail bar. Discreet custom joinery obscures practical amenities, while the fluid layout allows residents to move seamlessly between zones.

Just one level below, in distinctive contrast to the luminosity of Apartment 5402, is the darker-toned Apartment 5303, which harnesses clever spatial planning to maximise a smaller footprint. Tranquil views of Auckland Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower unfold beyond the apartment, which is imbued with a warm, timeless elegance reflecting the space’s front-row seat to each evening’s sunset. Coco Republic mobilises a curved sofa setting and floating chairs within this luxurious sanctuary to activate the eye towards the view. Tactile, plush materials magnify the space’s warmth, and a unique personality is honed via carefully curated artworks from Parnell Gallery and ambient textural design materials such as timber floors and rendered walls. The natural elements that lay beyond the penthouse and the tower are brought inside Apartment 5403 with eye-catching stone cladding that evokes both sturdy luxury and elemental rawness.

The Pacifica project and Apartments 5402 and 5403 are testaments to the authentic three-way commitment between Hengyi, Plus Architecture and Coco Republic to enhancing urban design and planning for the benefit of those who interact with their spaces. Pacifica will remain an icon of Auckland’s skyline for generations, setting a new benchmark for city living and apartment design.