Cheshire Architects has forged a name for itself across New Zealand, Australia and abroad, with adventurous clientele who are keen to be taken on a journey.
Hotel Britomart.
February 7th, 2022
Founded by architect Pip Cheshire and his son Nat more than 15 years ago, the objective was to create a strong studio environment. It was also to look at the broader aspects of design: landscape architecture, graphic design and signage through to even what staff will be wearing at one of their latest projects, the Hotel Britomart.
“The foundation of the practice is like a family, one where there’s collaboration. And if we need to, we source a number of creatives external to the studio,” says architect Dajiang Tai, a principal of the practice, who sees it as not dissimilar to composing an orchestra of creatives rather than, say, musicians.
“There has to be a cohesive vision from the outset, one that feels right for all parties,” says designer George Gregory, also a principal in the practice.
Although Cheshire is identified with the 10-level hotel in downtown Auckland, it has designed numerous award-winning homes, along with master planning entire city blocks and retail offerings.
“We don’t think of projects in terms of a specific type, whether its domestic or commercial. It’s more about the type of clients we work with,” says Gregory.
Those keen on discovering the Peninsula, north of Auckland, may see half a dozen bespoke homes designed by Cheshire Architects.
Others who venture onto Waiheke Island, a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland’s CBD, will be delighted to see the studio’s Cowes Bay house sitting on a ridge line and appearing to have been carved out of this spectacular site overlooking the water.
The home’s sinuous stone wall that leads to the front door, and also wraps around a swimming pool, is loosely inspired by the work of Spanish sculptor, Eduardo Chillida. “I love the way Chillida’s sculptures are imbued with light and shadow,” says Gregory.
Cheshire Architects’ Awaaworaoa Bay house, also on Waiheke Island, also clearly demonstrates the type of client attracted to its work.
Comprising three detached pavilions in a combination of timber and canvas, one pavilion is designated as the main bedroom for the owners.
A second pavilion is given over to social aspects, including the dining and living areas, while a third is daubed the ‘bunk room’, for family and guests. “Our clients wanted to experience the elements, not just hear the sound of rain on the roof, but feel it against their skin as they move between pavilions,” says Gregory.
The home’s simple interiors, with carefully orchestrated apertures, beautifully frame the idyllic site.
For Cheshire Architects, which has made an indelible mark on some of New Zealand’s most picturesque sites, it’s the variety of work, as much as being challenged by inner-city locations, that spurs it on.
The Hotel Britomart, for example, is framed by many heritage-listed buildings. And within these highly controlled confines, it not only master planned the precinct but also created one of Auckland’s new landmark buildings – the hotel, along with seven hospitality venues – celebrating this unique city and creating a sense of place.
Cheshire Architects
cheshirearchitects.com
Photography
Hotel Britomart – Sam Hartnett
Awaaworaoa Bay house – Jackie Meiring
We think you might like to read about this Christchurch co-working space by Coll Architecture and F3 Design.
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Welcomed to the Australian design scene in 2024, Kokuyo is set to redefine collaboration, bringing its unique blend of colour and function to individuals and corporations, designed to be used Any Way!
London-based design duo Raw Edges have joined forces with Established & Sons and Tongue & Groove to introduce Wall to Wall – a hand-stained, “living collection” that transforms parquet flooring into a canvas of colour, pattern, and possibility.
Designed by DKO, the latest Ingenia Lifestyle Element resident clubhouses at Fullerton Cove and Natura at Port Stephens focus on the lifestyle needs of a changing over-55s demographic.
Designed by Kelly Ross, the newest addition to Bisa Hospitality’s portfolio represents more than just another restaurant opening.
With the inaugural Glenn Murcutt Symposium set to take place in Sydney in September 2025, Pritzker Prize-winner Francis Kéré receives the Murcutt Pin.
Despite its long and rich history, signwriting is a profession in decline. Will Lynes’ new show, Oily Water at Canberra Glassworks, aims to showcase the techniques of the trade to highlight its potential in design.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Hospitality is evolving fast, demanding interiors that can flex as quickly as guest expectations. From modular seating to stackable silhouettes, Bowermans brings global design brands and local know-how to help designers shape spaces that perform as well as they inspire.
Poliform has mastered the art of seating that is both elegant and adaptable. These five designs highlight the balance between aesthetic impact and everyday ease.
Karndean’s newly evolved Opus range brings versatility and durability to the forefront of commercial flooring. Blending design-led aesthetics with robust, high-performance functionality, it’s a go-to solution for spaces that demand both style and resilience.