Fairfield Waters

Project Type: Multi-unit Residential.
Client: Private Developer
Location: Lower Hutt
Status: Completed

Fairfield Waters is an exciting residential community that brings a new living typology to Lower Hutt. Located on a site previously occupied by the former Summit Road Plant Nursery, this residential development of 20 dwellings for Urban Plus comprises a mix of two-storey townhouses, single-storey standalone homes and a cluster of 6 two-storey two-bedroom units. Creating a higher density development within an established residential area was a key challenge, with the interaction to the adjacent Waiwhetu Stream and the street an important element of the design.

Careful design attention to the individual interactions between houses, combined with a fresh modern architecture that respects the surrounds has created an environment that has been well accepted by the market.

At the time, in 2016, this was an adventure into new territory for Lower Hutt. It was an early exploration into the notion of shifting from standalone homes as the normal form of development towards the idea of medium-density housing. Masterplanning a site as a mini-community with a variety of housing choice that included duplex houses and a cluster of terrace-style units was an exciting opportunity for us to explore along with Urban Plus and test both the market and the planning framework of the time.