3.

5Apartmenttypologies,layoutsandmix
Thissectioncontainsexamplesofthemaintypesofapartment,whatareconsidered
tobehighqualityresidentialapartmentfloorplans,andanexampleofadesirable
mix of apartment types. These illustrations have been extracted from the Good
SolutionsGuideforApartments,producedjointlybytheNorthShoreCityCounciland
theAucklandCityCouncil.

ApartmentTypologies:ClassificationofApartments
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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SingleAspectApartments
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

CornerAspectApartments
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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DualAspectApartments
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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ApartmentLayout
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

ApartmentLayout:Furniture
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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ApartmentLayout:Examples
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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ApartmentLayout:Examples
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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ApartmentLayout:Examples
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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ApartmentLayout:Examples
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

ApartmentMix
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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3.6Entrances

Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

Building main entrances should be visible and easily identifiable from the
streetanddirectlyaccessiblefromstreetlevel.
Buildingentrancesshouldprovidepedestrianshelter.
Apartmentsatstreetlevelshouldhaveastreetaddressandthenumberthat
haveafrontdoordirectlyaccessiblefromthestreetshouldbemaximized.
FormixedusedevelopmentsinAreaA,separatepedestrianentrancesshould
beprovidedforresidentialactivities(mixedusesarenotpermittedinAreasB
andC).
Mailboxes should be easily accessible for mail delivery from the exterior of
thebuilding,andsecureandconvenientlyaccessibletoresidentsfromwithin
the foyer, without obstructing access to lifts, stairs, or impeding general
circulation.

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3.7Verticalaccess

Source:GoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

Wherepracticable,verticalcirculationscoresshouldbeexpressedonatleast
one exterior face of the building. This provides natural light within and
outlookfromthefoyersandreducesenergyconsumption.Foyerssolocated
alsoprovidecasualsurveillanceofthestreetandassistinvaryingthefaade
andreducingthescaleofalongbuilding.
Stairsshouldbeeasilyaccessibleandinviting,toencourageresidentstouse
stairs in preference to lifts. This promotes healthy exercise and assists
sustainability.
Amixofsingle,corneranddualaspectapartmentsmaybeaccommodated
onasinglefloor,allowingadiversityofplansandavoidinglongcorridors.

PlanofTrinityapartments,designedbyArchitectusamixtureofsingleanddualaspectfloorplans.

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VerticalAccess
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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1singleand2tripleaspect2bedroomapartments

2 triple aspect 3 bedroom apartments (could be

adaptedto2dualaspect3bedroomapartmentsand
repeatedendonend)

Amixtureofsingle,corneranddualaspectapartmentsofvaryingsizes.

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3.8Horizontalaccess

Wherehorizontalaccessisunavoidable,itshouldpreferablybebasedupona
single loaded corridor or a skipstop corridor.1 Double loaded internal
corridors make cross ventilation of apartments difficult and the corridors
themselvesrequireartificiallightingandventilation.
If a double loaded corridor cannot be avoided, the corridor should be
orientednorthsouthsothattherearenosolelysouthfacingapartments.
Access corridor should be short, wide and have windows at each end to
providenaturallightandventilation.
Exteriorhorizontalaccessshouldbedesignedtoprovidevisualandacoustic
privacy for apartment rooms adjacent to the access space. This can be
achievedwithextrawideaccessbalconiesorbypullingthebalconyawayfor
theexteriorfaceoftheapartmentandprovidingbridgestotheentrydoors.

1 Skipstop refers to a building that has a double loaded corridor on every second level so that

everyotherlevelhasadualaspectapartment.Becausethecorridordoesnotoccurateverylevel,
theliftskipsafloorhencethetermskipstop.

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HorizontalAccess
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuidetoApartments

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3.9Communaloutdoorspace

Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

Groundfloorapartmentsontocommunaloutdoorspace
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

External space within residential apartment developments should provide a

combination of high quality courtyards for ground level apartments and
communalpassiverecreationalspaceforresidents.
Wherecommunalspaceislocatedontopofbasementcarparking,provision
shouldbemadefortreestogrowtotheirmatureheightandremainhealthy.
Highretainingwallsshouldbeavoidedwherepossible.Anywallshigherthan
1m should be stepped at an appropriate and visually attractive height and
incorporateplanting.
Thelandscapeshouldincorporateindigenousvegetation,and/ordrawupon
the established planting within the Residential 9a zone or the Racecourse
environment.

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3.10 Privateoutdoorspacecourtyards

Allapartmentsatgroundlevelorontheroofofabasementcarparkshould
beprovidedwithaprivatecourtyardforoutdoorliving.
Thecourtyardshouldhaveaminimumareaof27m2,aminimumhorizontal
dimensionof4.5m,andbedirectlyaccessiblefromtheprincipallivingspace.
Thewallsofcourtyardsfacingthestreetorpubliclyaccessiblespacesshould
not exceed 1.2m in height. For rear courtyards or those edging communal
openspace,wallsshouldnotexceedfacing1.8minheight.
A hose tap should be provided in each apartments principal outdoor living
courtyard.

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3.11Privateoutdoorspacebalconies

Allapartmentsabovegroundlevelshouldbeprovidedwithaprivatebalcony
directlyaccessiblefromtheprincipallivingarea.
Foroneandtwobedroomapartments,thebalconyshouldhaveaminimum
areaof6m2,withaminimumhorizontaldimensionof2m.
For apartments with three or more bedrooms, the balcony should have a
minimumareaof9m2,withaminimumhorizontaldimensionof2.4m.
Balconies that are private, sheltered and can be used all year round are
encouraged.
Balconies that are fully recessed within the overall building form are to be
preferredoverthosethatprojectfullybeyondthefaceofthebuilding.These
providebetterweatherprotectionandfaadearticulation.
Ahosetapshouldbeprovidedoneachapartmentsprincipalbalcony.

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3.12Outlookandvisualprivacy

Internal design of every accommodation unit within a development should

maximizeoutlook,asdistinctfromviews.
Outlookovertheracecourseandinfieldshouldbemaximized.
SecondaryoutlooksshouldbeovertheheavilytreedareaadjacenttoMorrin
Street.
Outlook from principal living areas over existing adjoining residential
propertiesshouldbeavoided.
All outlook space should be designed to achieve a high level of amenity
throughdesignandlandscaping.
Outlook space should be provided either over a street, publicly accessible
space, pedestrian link, the racetrack, or into the landscaped centre of a
developmentblock.
Wheretwoapartmentsfaceeachother,theirminimumseparationdistance
between principal living areas should be 15 metres, inclusive of decks and
balconies.
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3.13Acousticprivacy

Apartments should be arranged to minimize noise transmission between

apartmentsby:
i.
placinglivingroomsadjacenttolivingrooms,bedroomsadjacentto
bedrooms, and service rooms adjacent to service rooms, both
horizontallyandvertically.
ii.
Utilizing storage or circulation zones to contain noise within the
apartmentandtobuffernoisefromadjoiningmechanicalservicesor
corridorsandlobbyareas.
iii.
Minimizing the number of intertenancy (shared) walls between
apartments.
All apartments should comply with or exceed the relevant New Zealand
BuildingCodeminimumstandardsforsoundtransmission.

Acousticprivacy
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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3.14Basementcarparking

Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

Basementorcoveredparkingforresidentsisstronglyencouraged.
No access to basement parking should be provided off any private road,
privatelane,privatewayorpubliclyaccessiblespaceadjacenttotheedgeof
theracetrack.
The number of basement access and service interruptions to building
frontageandfootpathcontinuity,andthewidthofsuchinterruptions,should
beminimized.
Theentrancetothebasementparkingfacilitiesshouldbeattractiveandnot
compromisethesafetyofpedestriansandcyclists.
Partial basement parking structures should not project more than 1.2m
abovetheadjoiningstreetlevelandshouldbedesignedtoprovideavisually
attractive edge to the adjoining footpath, street and/or publicly accessible
space.
There should be direct lift and stair access from the basement car parking
areatotheindividualapartmentlobbies.
Security ofaccess toand egress from basementparkingshouldbe carefully
consideredandprovidedfor.
Fumes from parking structures or other uses should not be ventilated or
dischargedintoanyadjacentpedestrianenvironment.
All apartments should be provided with a storage locker in the residents
basementorcoveredcarparks.Lockersshouldbelargeenoughtocontainan
adultsizedbicycle.

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3.15Materials

Materials on the exterior of buildings should be high quality, durable and

easilymaintained,particularlyatgroundandfirstfloorlevels.
Side or rear walls should be used as an opportunity to introduce creative
architectural design solutions that provide interest in the faade including
architecturalmodulation,surfacereliefand/ordetailing.

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3.16 Naturalventilation

All accommodation should be provided with natural cross ventilation by

having window openings facing different directions. Dual aspect and corner
apartments are best able to provide such window openings, but shallow
depth single aspect apartment can be naturally ventilated in a satisfactory
manner.
Notwithstanding any requirements to achieve internal acoustic privacy,
ventilationprovidedsolelybymechanicalmeansisdiscouraged.
As apartments are often uninhabited during the daytime, ventilation
elementsshouldbesecureandrainproofwhenleftopen.

Naturalventilation
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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3.17Daylightaccess

Inordertoreducerelianceonartificiallightandreduceenergyconsumption,
daylightaccesstoapartmentsshouldbemaximized.
Thesitelayoutshouldorientatebuildingstooptimizethenortherlyaspect.
Sunlightaccessfromthenorth,eastandwestshouldbeabletobecontrolled
byresidentstopreventbuildingsbecomingtoohot.
Thedepthofsingleaspectapartmentsshouldbeminimized.
Single aspect apartments with a southerly aspect should be avoided, and
where this is not possible the percentage of southerly aspect apartments
(southwestthroughsoutheast)shouldnotexceed10%ofthetotalnumber
ofapartmentsinthebuilding.
At least 70% of living rooms and private open spaces in any development
should receive a minimum of three hours of sunlight between 9.00am and
3pminmidwinter.

DaylightAccess
Source:TheGoodSolutionsGuideforApartments

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3.18Sustainability

Buildings should be designed to be sustainable through the use of durable,

low maintenance materials, inert exterior cladding (avoiding the use of
materials containing copper or zinc), maximizing solar access and natural
ventilation and through the incorporation of mechanical and electrical
systemsthatoptimizeenergyefficiency.
Adequate storage space and containers should be provided for rubbish and
recyclable material, in a location that is convenient and easily accessible to
occupantsandcollectionvehicles.
Where practicable, development should incorporate onsite storm water
conservationmeasures,orotherlowimpactstormwatersystems.

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4.0Glossaryofterms

addressthestreetmeansthebuildingshouldorientitsfrontfacegenerallyparallel
and close to the street boundary, and have its main entrance directly visible and
accessiblefromthatsamestreet.
apartment typologies means the study, interpretation, classification and
description of apartments according to the range of different types, which may be
definedbybuildingform,aspect,access,numberofstoreysornumberofbedrooms,
etc.
architectural articulation means to make clearly distinguishable the junctions
betweenarchitecturalcomponentsofabuildingelevation.
architectural modulation means to regulate, adjust or vary the vertical and/or
horizontal emphases, proportions and rhythms created by the components of a
buildingelevation.
passive surveillance means people casually noticing (rather than formally or
deliberately watching) what is going on a street, park or publicly accessible space
outsidethebuildingtheyareoccupying.Thisisconsideredtobeakeyingredientin
reducingcrimeandincreasingpublicsafety.
physicallyedgemeanstoprovideabuilt/constructededge.
positivelyengagemeanstovisuallyandfunctionallyinteractwithinapositiveand
aestheticallyharmoniousmanner.
seamlessmeanscontinuous,withoutvisiblejointsorjunctions.
sleeveofapartmentsmeans,byanalogywithashirtsleevewrapped aroundan
arm,azoneofapartmentswrappedaroundtheouteredgesofanareaofcarparking
soastoensurethattheparkingisnotvisibleontheoutsideofabuilding.
spatiallydefinemeanstogivendefinitiontoaspaceinsuchawaythatthespace
becomestangibleandisabletobeperceivedasavolumewithfinitelimits.
accessiblemeansdesignedtopermitusebypeoplewithdisabilities.

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