The ‘Uku’ neighbourhood is one half of the larger Kerepeti Development at Hobsonville Point, which will ultimately cover almost two hectares over two sites, including laneways, green spaces and a diverse range of architecturally-designed homes to suit a mixed clientele. Sited opposite the local secondary school, Uku is the smaller, higher-density part of the Kerepeti equation, focused on a block of terraced housing and a six-storey apartment building with basement parking.

Completed in late 2018 by Haydn & Rollett after a 20 month-build, the apartment building is the tallest structure to go up so far at Hobsonsville Point, but it’s not only its height that makes it so striking. Designed by Context Architects, the building is clad in brick – 93,000 bricks, to be precise, coloured red, white and grey, all of which had to be laid by hand. It goes without saying that this was a highly labour-intensive build, and sourcing enough reliable and skilled bricklayers in the Auckland market proved testing.