Seatoun Water Tanks - Repurpose

By Guy Evans Architects

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Sometimes the most sustainable approach to building is to repurpose an existing structure.

The Seatoun Water tanks had served the public for many decades before being decommissioned a few years ago. Only the occasional Council maintenance staffer has witnessed one of the most spectacular panoramic views in Wellington - encompassing the harbour entrance, the airport and surrounding hills as well as the Kaikoura mountain range in Te Waipounamu the South Island - on a good day!

We have been commissioned to transform this structure into something inhabitable - perhaps a brutalist concrete bolthole may work?!

Our first steps are to study the physical characteristics of the Tanks which have stood proud on this exposed ridge since the 1930's. These studies will inform our overall approach to the design. We have created a 3D LiDAR scan (point cloud) of the site and structure. It is very much like the recent scans taken of the Titanic wreck. 

The scan allows us to navigate around the building from the comfort of our computer. Physical core samples will be taken of the reinforced concrete on site for scientific analysis. The process of discovery is fascinating. Below we have added a few images taken from the scan.

Guy Evans Architects

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Seatoun Water Tanks - Repurpose

Guy Evans Architects
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Professional

Guy Evans Architects is an architecture and interior design practice based in Otautahi Christchurch. We are an NZIA Practice member.

Our project work is located throughout Aotearoa New Zealand within a variety of contexts that present unique challenges for our team to tackle with passion and commitment to our clients.

We are primarily focused on residential dwellings from single family houses to apartments and townhouses; new builds and renovations of existing.

We also have a broad experience in a range of commercial building types and their associated interior design.

Current projects include new houses in Fendalton and Waimairi Beach, additions to houses in Sumner and Remuera, a four-storey alteration in Mt Victoria and the repurposing of decommissioned water tanks in Seatoun into a residential brutalist concrete bolthole!

We tailor our services to suite each project. This enables us to optimize the value we bring to all our clients.

Our strong relationships with other key consultants and the building industry as a whole is vital and enables great team work throughout our projects.

There has never been a more challenging time than now for our industry.

We see this as a tremendous opportunity to make a difference.

Our creativity is well balanced with a pragmatic underlay. This allows our early investigations and feasibility studies to maximize the potential of a site while allowing our clients appropriate buffer with clear communications around the project road ahead.

Our wide-ranging experience is laser focused on the jobs at hand.

We love problem solving and understand what good design can bring to our clients.

Our design process aims to distil the essence of the problem.

This transforms the project into something that is more than just a functional building.

It will have a refined elegance that will stand the test of time.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.