LUXURY PARKSIDE LIVING
WORDS Joshua Brosnahan PHOTOS Sarah Rowlands
Hagley Mews is fast being established as a leading inner-city community, by combining the best of luxury contemporary living with a location unlike any other in our city, overlooking Christchurch’s own Hagley Park. With a focus on quality architecture reminiscent of English Regency, the 26 townhouse community development fits in harmoniously with its surroundings and sets a new standard in living for Christchurch.
Situated on Ayr Street and Deans Ave, the former site of John Britten’s Heatherlea apartments is well on the way to completion as Hagley Mews. Each residence has a private garden area and access to a private internal courtyard. A mixed typology of one, two, and three storey buildings, varied in design and size, reflects the emerging desire for a more efficient and sustainable medium density urban lifestyle.
Grigori Koulanov, the director of Hagley Mews developer Profico, moved to Christchurch in the mid-1990s with his parents. He mentions that his family almost settled here by chance – giving it a year to see if it was a city for them. After setting up residence in the suburb of Sumner, Christchurch quickly became their new home. He now has four children of his own, the youngest a year old.
After the earthquakes in 2011, Grigori felt a push to build.
“I had a desire to create something I can be proud of, both architecturally and aesthetically. I care about how people live, and how they feel about their house after they’ve purchased it.”
The Ayr Street site had resource consent to rebuild the former ten storey block, but after evaluating townhouses in the market, Grigori made the decision to keep the build to three or fewer storeys, with individual courtyards for each residence. The spatial arrangement and orientatio of each townhouse was carefully designed to maximise views and sunlight, whilst ensuring that privacy is not compromised. It’s all sensitively designed to integrate with the local neighbourhood, meaning the surrounding houses aren’t blocked out of the sun or a view.
The decision to keep the main living areas of the three storey residences on the second floor meant the townhouses have a clear view of Hagley Park. This allows for a large fourth bedroom and double garage on the ground floor. In the traditional sense of a townhouse, Profico is not cutting any corners and they’re providing ample space and storage.
It was ‘a bit of a process’ getting to the completed concept plans, purely because Grigori has maintained a high level of involvement throughout the entire build.
“I’m really pleased with where we got to with the plans. Lots of heads came together to make it right and in terms of concentrating on quality and what we could offer the people of Christchurch. Coming from Russia and also spending considerable time in Europe, I do feel that houses need to be warmer here, and a bit more people orientated. As a residential development, we’ve really made sure we’ve included personally designed houses with high specs. We have gone the extra mile to offer nice homes.”
European tilt and turn windows offer triple glazing – they are quiet, warm and fit the style of the build. When testing these in the current climate, closing the windows completely muted any construction noise outside. Extensive heat recovery ventilation takes it one step further, with the units in each home extracting fresh air from outside, ensuring a healthier, drier home all year round. All internal walls are insulated to the highest spec, and the ceiling features double the recommended insulation. These homes will not only be warm, but efficient.
Grigori is passionate when showcasing the features included in Hagley Mews. The doors are European, with Italian door handles and invisible hinges. Italian tiles with underfloor heating, right into the shower space. The bathrooms are designed by award-winning bathroom designer Vicki Andrews and produced locally; every detail is thoughtof, planned, and articulated to the highest possible standard.
German brand Ghroe provided sleek, classic fixtures in the bathrooms. Swiss brand Laufen was used to source all of the toilets and basins.
A point of difference for the Hagley Mews community is their own personal health annex on site. This includes a swimming spa pool, a gym, a separate hot spa, and sauna. An exclusive addition that adds so much, only a few steps from their own front doors.
The team working behind the scenes on Hagley Mews is a ‘who’s who’ of notable work.
George Saumarez-Smith is a leading classical architect from UK firm Adam Architecture, and Nigel Gilkison; a highly experienced urban designer with an extensive background in architecture. Fiona Renton of Sandalwood Design spearheaded the décor design, providing luxe finishings in each residence.
A collaboration of the best in European design, with locally sourced trade and talent, mean this is a build that Profico can be extremely proud of. With eleven residences already sold, this is luxury parkside living that Christchurch is responding to. Stage two is ahead of schedule, thanks to Strongline Projects – the main contractors, and the lead project managers for the homes. The completion of Hagley Mews is scheduled for November of this year.
“For me, at the end of the day, building Hagley Mews and other projects is about leaving a quality footprint. I consider this my legacy,” Grigori says.
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