The Latest: New Auckland Architects & Apartment Developments
7/5/2020
They'd barely worked out where to go for coffee when they were sent home to work. Architectural Graduate, Ana Suznejevic joined our Parnell studio in February and Registered Architect, Jason Yap only shortly before the Level 4 lockdown ...
Ana, you only returned to Auckland late last year...
I spent several years travelling and working in Europe, and reconnecting with family in Croatia. I'm very grateful I returned to New Zealand from London before all this happened. It would have been hard to be over there now, especially to work from home. It's been nice spending quality time with family, living with my parents during lockdown has allowed me to to save money towards my own home.
I've been missing going to our little Parnell studio, it's a really nice area. It's been great going to new lunch and coffee spots with the Auckland crew and getting to know them. They are a lovely bunch.
Jason Yap brings a wealth of commercial experience to HMOA
Jason joined HMOA from Auckland practices, Leuschke Kahn Architects, Context Architects and Plus Architecture. He has spent lockdown at home in Onehunga with his wife, an essential worker at the hospital.
Jason, how have you found working from home?
It's been great, remote access has allowed us to still work on projects collectively as a team. Strong communication has been essential during this time, more so than usual I think.
I've really missed being able to see and talk to my colleagues in the office, just to ask them how their day is going or a quick question about a project. I've also been surprised by how much I've missed Friday night takeaways!
What are the apartment developments in progress for the Auckland HMOA team?
Buscomb Ave Apartments is a 14-floor apartment building in Henderson. Construction began late last year with the piling completed just before lockdown.
The contractor is now back on site and continuing with the foundations. We have been carrying on with the coordination of the façade consent and general clarifications when required.
The Rose Road development is an eight-floor apartment building in Ponsonby. We are in the final stages of completing the Building Consent with coordination of the consultant team. Regular team meetings have helped to keep the ball rolling, and we've also found video conferencing has streamlined the coordination of the consultant team.
