Ngā Whare Pārara Somerfield Superhomes
Somerfield, Christchurch
Location |
Ōmokoroa, Bay of Plenty |
Client |
Client – The Village Ōmokoroa |
Prolam Product |
Prolam Visual Glulam Beams and Posts |
Designed by First Principles Architects & Interiors, The Village is a masterplanned development that includes medical and professional services, retail, hospitality and residential spaces across 1.7 hectares.
The development’s stand-out design features buildings in a mix of different but complementary architectural styles, and two central landscaped spaces, to create a pleasant village atmosphere – true to its name.
Highlighting the trend to blend natural timber tones with darker hues, First Principles Architects & Interiors chose Prolam Visual Grade Beams and Posts to create a warm and welcoming exterior façade for The Village Green bar and restaurant. As the planting between the posts matures, this design will further enhance the connection between the restaurant and bar, and the green space – enriching the outdoor dining experience at The Village Green.
The beams were H3.2 treated and the posts H5 treated during the production process, and then oiled to highlight and enhance the natural beauty of the timber. The treatments and the coating will help preserve the aesthetics, structural integrity and dimensional stability of the glulam exterior timber features for years to come.
The canopy is finished off with a continuous contemporary gutter and downpipes seamlessly integrated with the beams and posts.
Fosters, an industry leader in sustainable developments, and their consultants received a Silver Award in the 2024 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards for the development and construction The Village.
“Prolam glulam was a great way for Fosters to incorporate more sustainable building materials while working with a familiar product: timber, which has always been the centrepiece of construction in New Zealand.”
- Mitika Chaturvedi, Sustainability Lead, Fosters
Images courtesy of Mark Scowen Photography