The Ironbank is located in a unique historic area in between of Auckland’s central business district and a quarter undergoing urban renewal. The project was recently awarded a 5-Star Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council for its forward-thinking green systems, which include rainwater collection, solar hot water heating, natural ventilation via a night purging system, low embodied energy materials, and the recycling of nearly 95% of the construction materials.
Ironbank’s front facade offers retail space and has been built to respect the height of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings that surround it. The rear of the building is a seven-story office tower composed of a rusty facade and container-like blocks stacked at skewed angles. While the front respects the historic nature of the street, the back contrasts with a very industrial, utilitarian and functional aesthetic and program.
The innovative and automatic car stacking system parks 95 cars underground with a robot, where 25 of those spaces are designated for small cars. Energy-efficient design and lighting lower energy use and create a more comfortable environment for the employees and visitors to the building.
Via World Architecture News
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Completed in 2009, the Ironbank is a mixed-use office and retail building in Auckland that has received a number of accolades for its rusty “container” architecture, environmentally-sustainable design, and its impressive parking garage featuring an innovative robotic car stacking system. Designed by Aukland-based RTA Studio, the Ironbank is not only ecologically and sustainably designed, but it was recently awarded 5-Star Green Star rating awarded by the New Zealand Green Building Council.
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The mixed-use office and retail building is located in a historic area of Aukland, at the edge of the city’s central business district.
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The front contains retail space facing a commercial street, while the back maintains a seven-story office tower.
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The tower is composed of a series of stacked rusty “containers” with large windows that offer a view of the city.
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The building front has been built to the same height of the historic Victorian and Edwardian commercial buildings that surround it.
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The building was recently awarded with a 5-Star Green Star Rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council for its environmental design.
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The mixed-use building includes rainwater collection, natural ventilation via a night time purge system, energy-efficient lighting, solar hot water heating, and more.
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In 2009, it received three architecture awards in the “commercial”, “sustainable” and “urban design” categories of the New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland awards.
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It also received second place at the European World Architecture Festival, making it the best-scoring New Zealand entrant ever at the festival.
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The project also features an innovative automatic car stacking system that uses a robot to efficiently place cars on an underground rack.
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The car stacking system has 25 dedicated spaces for small cars.
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