Construkt Architects prepares urban design reports and assessments for resource consent applications and development projects across New Zealand. With offices in Auckland and Hamilton, our experience covers apartment buildings, medium-density housing, residential subdivisions, masterplanned neighbourhoods, mixed-use developments and urban regeneration.

We provide urban design expertise for projects designed by Construkt and by external architects, developers and consultant teams, supporting proposals from early design development through to resource consent.

Our approach

Our urban design reports consider how proposed developments respond to their site, surrounding neighbourhood and wider urban context. Depending on the project and applicable planning framework, assessments may address building scale and form, streetscape character, pedestrian connections, public open space, landscape interfaces and relationships with neighbouring development.

Reports typically bring together site and context analysis, an explanation of the proposal, relevant planning provisions and an assessment of the urban design matters applicable to the project.

As New Zealand's planning system evolves, we continue to provide urban design advice that responds to changing statutory requirements while recognising the importance of good design outcomes for residents, neighbourhoods and communities.

Our architectural and masterplanning experience informs our reporting, allowing us to consider both the wider urban context and the practical requirements of building design.

Urban design expertise

Our urban design work is led by Kate Watson, Principal and Lead Urban Designer at Construkt Architects. Kate is a Registered Urban Designer with the Urban Designers Institute Aotearoa (UDIA) and a member of the Auckland Urban Design Panel, with over 15 years of experience in architecture, masterplanning and urban design.

This experience supports our work across residential intensification, apartment developments, urban regeneration and larger masterplanning projects.

Selected project experience

Construkt has prepared urban design reports for a wide range of residential and urban development projects, including:
- Aurora Masterplan, Hamilton — Urban design reporting for a 35.8-hectare residential development in Peacocke, alongside design guidelines and ongoing design reviews.
- Temple View Masterplan, Hamilton — Urban design reports for two Comprehensive Development Plans, including attendance at the hearing.
- Huapai Triangle, Auckland — Multiple urban design reports supporting residential precinct masterplanning.
- Woolshed Road, Queenstown — Urban design reporting and development rules for a residential masterplan.
- Proxima Residences, Auckland — Urban design reporting alongside the architectural design of a multi-level apartment development in Eden Terrace.
- 47 Pembroke Street, Hamilton — Urban design reporting for a 24-apartment residential development.
- The River Block Project, Hamilton — Urban design reporting for a medium-density residential redevelopment, alongside masterplanning, architecture and landscape design.
- AO23 Mayflower Close, Auckland — Urban design reporting for a 19-home affordable housing development in Māngere East.

Our work ranges from individual apartment and terraced housing developments to larger residential neighbourhoods, structure plans and comprehensive development plans.

Working with Construkt

Our urban design team works with developers, architects, planners and other consultants to prepare reports suited to the scale and complexity of each proposal. We can become involved during early design development or prepare an assessment of an established design as part of a resource consent application.