Waitakere Estate
Project
Accommodation /
Residential
Multi-dwelling Units
Location
573 Scenic Drive
Waiatarua
Client
Heritage Collection
Waitakere Estate
Value
$3.8 Million
Period
14 Months
Consultants
Engineer /
Sullivan Hall
There are easier places to access than
Waitakere Estate, sited at the end of a
narrow two kilometre-long driveway deep
in West Auckland’s heavily forested ranges.
For the Haydn and Rollett team tasked with
building a new accommodation block for the
upmarket hotel, the remote location made
bringing in materials and precast panels
trickier than your typical project. There
were also design changes that caused some
issues, and a fair number of days lost to rain.
Work began with the demolition of the
retreat’s existing squash court and gym
facilities. In its place, the team constructed
a three-storey wing of concrete, structural
steel and a timber truss roof, comprised
of a basement gym, sauna and health spa,
topped by eight deluxe suites, plus an air
bridge connecting the new wing with the rest
of the hotel. The exterior was clad in a mix
of stone plaster and vertical shiplap timber,
while the internal finishing was uniformly
high-end. Each suite was fitted with a glazed
balcony offering spectacular views of the
surrounding ranges and distant city.
Following this multi-million dollar
revamp, the venue is now for sale.
