Jennings Street and Jersey Ave award winning State Houses

Amongst Auckland's homelessness and housing problems, a small government project rose up in 2017 providing strong solid homes for families in need, and knocking a home run by winning an architectural award.

This was in Jersey Ave and Jennings Streets, always state housing but formerly a cul de sac on the wrong side of the railway tracks, in multi-ethnic and rather crowded Mount Albert. While the area was on the up, like all of Auckland's city fringe suburbs, and the homes previously sold out of state ownership became tidier more valuable, pockets of tired state homes were hiding huge back yards begging to be built upon, and that's what happened.

Housing New Zealand employed firm Monk Mackenzie to maximise the former eight-unit site, and were rewarded with 18 sizeable family homes with architectural flair that won the project the New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland Regional Award for multi-unit dwellings.

Pushing the units back on their sites meant that the thirty people that used to live here are now ninety people, and that is a goal achieved for Housing New Zealand. Bold front faces in two different styles mimic, and improve upon, the look of the ubiquitous millennial Fletcher homes that populate and multiply in the outer Auckland suburbs. Concrete driveways are timeless and low maintenance. The use of linea boards, bright red brick and coloursteel are in keeping with any other new development, but also pay homage to Mount Albert and the state houses of old.

With some in standalone form, and some in a new duplex style, the homes are all two storey. Some have garages and some have yards and courtyards. For the residents, the primary architectural feature which should make for an improved living environment upon the old 1940s duplexes, is higher than standard ceilings. This is a new idea for state houses and is used to make them feel bright and well proportioned.

Homes in the surrounding area are still booming and former state houses are being replaced with medium density options. This time though, the government was over the finish line first, and got the award.

State House Print by Glenn Jones

Image Credits: Google and Housing New Zealand