Meridian Building
By Studio Pacific Architecture
Situated in the Kumutoto precinct on Wellington's waterfront, the Meridian building is seamlessly integrated into the surrounding maritime environment while also representing a strikingly distinctive and environmentally innovative architectural work in its own right.
The building, completed by Studio Pacific in association with Peddle Thorp architects, is articulated as two separate forms: a curved annex portion with rich textured external louvres to relate to the surrounding historic built fabric, and a smooth, glazed rectangular pavilion cantilevered out to seemingly float lightly above the water. The top floor of the annex has been set back like a lantern, visually relating to the roof lights of the neighbouring sheds, while the folding roof of the pavilion represents a modern interpretation of the varied roof forms of the sheds. The ground floor was also functions as a fluid, lively extension of the surrounding public area.
New Zealand's first 5 Green Star rated building, the Meridian Building uses partially recycled cement in the structure, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Within the building there is extensive exposed thermal mass, chilled beam technology and high efficiency light fittings, all contributing to a 60% lower energy consumption than a typical office building. A 70% reduction in water usage is also achieved through harvesting rainwater and using low flow fittings. All material selections are from sustainable sources wherever possible and are recyclable.
Photography: Simon Devitt.
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Meridian Building
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Meridian Building
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Shaping Our Pacific Future – We are a cross-disciplinary architecture, interior, landscape and urban design practice shaping a more sustainable and people-centric built environment across the buildings, neighbourhoods, cities, and landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Studio Pacific was established in 1992 by friends and colleagues Evžen Novák, Nick Barratt-Boyes, and Stephen McDougall. After working in the UK and Europe, the three architects were drawn back home by a shared desire to form a collaborative and innovative practice in Te Whanganui-a-Tara – Wellington.
They opened an architecture studio ‘of the Pacific’, applying their creativity to projects that engaged with, and elevated, context and culture. Over the years, this has grown into a compelling manifesto to shape our collective Pacific future, where people and the planet are at the heart of our built environment.
Today, we are a team of around 100 – including architects, urban designers, landscape architects, interior designers and business professionals. We bring diversity in thinking and design, and a democratic culture ensures clever ideas come from all corners of the practice, not necessarily from those who have been here the longest.
Open-minded, collaborative and creative, our practice has evolved into a leading and award-winning business, working on a wide range of exciting projects that seek to make Aotearoa New Zealand a better place.