Jun 9, 2021 Urban design
Metro x Electric of Kingsland: A new apartment complex on Kingsland’s main road will fit right in with the area’s vibrant lifestyle and historic streetscapes.
The Kingsland neighbourhood is always alive. You can wake up to coffee from one of the many cafes pouring an early-morning cup on the main New North Rd strip, have a tasty Jordanian lunch at Petra Shawarma, after-work drinks at Citizen Park or Japanese Street Lantern Bar, and celebrate a milestone birthday with a lovely meal at Phil’s Kitchen. Pizza parlours, hair salons, dessert houses, doctors: it’s all there. Plus, if you ever need to leave, the nearby Kingsland train station will get you where you need to go.
It’s exactly the kind of vibrant lifestyle which drew the Cassidy family to develop new boutique retail and residential development The Electric right in the middle of all that action; they’ve lived and worked in Kingsland since the 1980s.
The 33-apartment complex hinges itself on “living differently”, acknowledging the varied personalities that make up the suburb. “The vision is to create high quality, beautiful living spaces that speak to the diverse range of people who want access to the business, transport, and social offerings of inner Auckland,” Juliet Lichtenstein, Project Sales Manager at Colliers, the agency marketing the project, says.
Simon Woodall, director of Chow:Hill, is leading the team responsible for making it all beautiful. Everything about the L-shaped building is thoughtfully considered, with allowances for lots of light, greenery, and outdoor entertaining. Dressed in neutral wood, black, greys and lush green climbing plants, the overall effect is modern and calming – there’s even a Japanese-inspired zen garden included in the development – but it still speaks to the historic streetscapes Kingsland is known for.
“The Electric has been designed to capture the essence of Kingsland, a suburb that embraces both heritage and modernity, a community of forward-thinking, design savvy residents,” Woodall says.
Think sun-soaked terraces, designer kitchens with integrated appliances, and contemporary interiors including bagged brick feature walls. A particular highlight is the floor-to-ceiling glass bifold or sliding doors on the balconies which allow residents to completely close in their outdoor spaces, creating a cosy sunroom to enjoy with a coffee and newspaper on lazy Sunday mornings.
Some of the homes also have expansive outdoor terraces which look out onto the Waitakere Ranges, large enough for a barbeque, dining table, couches – perfect if you’re used to entertaining.
That’s the thing: The Electric has options for all types of lifestyles. Apartments range from 50sqm to 155sqm (excluding terraces), and one, two, and three bedroom layout options. (Although, there’s also a 667sqm rooftop garden penthouse that boasts 360-degree views over Auckland for whoever is lucky enough to call that home.) All the one, two and three bedroom apartments come with single or tandem car parks, generous, Full-height storage units for bikes, and motorcycle parking units are available, if that’s more your thing.
The Electric aims to fulfill its concept of “live differently” in another way, too: by setting itself apart from all the neighbouring developments. This development is distinctively itself, so to live here is to give yourself over to the new and unique.
The Electric’s on-site showroom will open at 445 New North Road in June, and will include a display kitchen and bathroom for discerning buyers to visualise the spaces. Prices range from $695,000 to $2.75M+ and the garden penthouse is POA. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 with purchasers taking up residence in early 2024.
Register your interest at www.theelectric.co.nz or contact Sherryl Todd, 021 222 6308 or Ainsley Lewis, 021 122 8585
Colliers, Licensed under REAA 2008.
This article was created in partnership with The Electric.
