The Fire Service’s new Takapuna Station contains the Fire Area’s management offices and training facilities in addition to being an operational station. Differentiation between these distinct uses is provided through vertical separation with the Station on the ground floor and the offices on the first floor.
The shared entry consists of a double height lobby, flanked on one side by a red polished concrete wall, with wide entry steps returning around the kauri fireman’s pole salvaged from the old station and backed by full height glazing adorned with imagery portraying the geographical catchment of the station.
Designed to accommodate two fully manned fire appliances this facility provides living quarters for 8 officers, along with a generous north facing courtyard, a large gym and spaces for various operational needs.
A robust building was provided by the use of precast concrete however differing finishes were used to define the various building elements and reduce perceived bulk. The resulting aesthetic is one of enduring solidity, providing a sense of protective strength to the community it serves and to those that work within it