Location: Auckland, New Zealand.

Architect: Warren and Mahoney Architects.

The Giltrap Group needed a mixed-use space to showcase Bentley, Lamborghini and Aston Martin’s ‘star-cars’ in a full-service corporate, warehouse, servicing and showroom build. The design of this retail space responds to difficult and unique challenges, such as the cohabitation of three strong brands with potentially competing products, challenging the car dealership typology and its corresponding workplace culture, and convincing global brands to display their opulent vehicles in a way that is suited to New Zealand audiences. A double-storey in-situ concrete truss is at the core of the structure, providing a completely free-glazed street frontage. Curved driving ramps connect each floor in a sine wave curve, allowing clients to drive in with the old, and drive out with the new. The 119 Great North Road building is the first building of its type to achieve a 5-Star Green Star Design rating.

Collaboration with Targetti New Zealand led to the development of a multi-task light, a bespoke, centralised system controlling power, data, sprinklers and lighting in one linear fitting inspired by under-car-hood engineering. Michael Giltrap, Group Joint Managing Director, was blown away by the design, which perfectly showcases some of the world’s most beautiful cars and is the most technologically impressive and environmentally friendly building in the country.