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Atawhai, Nelson
A subdivision with a sense of place.
The Location
Nelson is a name redolent of sun, beaches, fishing, wineries and bushwalks. The region is one of the most desirable areas to live in New Zealand. Life, even in Nelson City itself, offers plentiful outdoor leisure opportunities, usually hard to find so close to city amenities. Atawhai is situated a short drive from the city centre, on the northern side of Nelson City; favoured by locals as the warmer side. Views at Atawhai are a combination of ocean, hillside and pastoral, and the development is positioned to make the best of them.
The Challenges
The challenges in developing this land into a sustainable living zone included designing earthworks on a geologically complex site, part of which has been previously modified by quarrying for highway works.
The planning brief also specified that this was to be seen as a long-term, reasonably large-scale development project of high quality which required a full service approach: encompassing project management, planning, engineering and surveying.
The Solution
The Davis Ogilvie team came through with a functional and effective design solution, using key experience from across a range of developmental areas. Extensive earthworks and retaining walls were required to achieve a coherent, useable layout.
The Atawhai project took from 2003 to 2005 to complete, drawing on high levels of professionalism and perseverance from all those involved. Costs amounted to $3m.
The Result
The result is a popular subdivision that fits in well with established housing nearby and ensures occupants have access to everything that the Nelson region has to offer. The development has been a benchmark for other developments around the country and remains a highly practical development.