Hanson Court
This project involved the comprehensive upgrade of a group of 1960’s vintage concrete buildings on the WCC Hanson Court social housing campus in Newtown as part of the ongoing WCC social housing upgrade project. architecture+ undertook the design and documentation, with WCC providing the project management.
The upgrade included complete interior refurbishment of 110 residential apartments and common areas, including thermal insulation, mechanical ventilation, window replacement, exterior re-painting and landscaping of external areas. A new community centre facility was created within a single storey building saved from demolition at another social housing site in Daniell Street and relocated to the Hanson site.
The Hanson campus accommodates a varied mix of tenants from many ethnic backgrounds, many of whom are elderly living either singly or as couples. Although the campus is quite generously proportioned with significant space between buildings, none of the residential units have access to private outdoor space and consequently it was not developed as family accommodation.
Council initiated a high degree of consultation with tenants and other stakeholders throughout the process from initial briefing through to re occupation of the upgraded accommodation. A variety of interactive briefing, design review and feedback sessions were convened between the design team, Council staff and tenants. This mechanism promoted an interchange of ideas and encouraged discussion providing briefing over specific tenancy and accommodation issues. This engagement in a truly collaborative process resulted in many suggestions and design changes and a high degree of tenant stakeholder ownership in the finished development.
The upgrade was staged with tenants relocated into other Council accommodation during the construction stage. A high return rate of original tenants to the upgraded accommodation is testament to the strength and success of the consultation and engagement process.
Design team: Allan Wright, Tammy Anderson
Client: Wellington City Council
Project team: Maycroft Construction
