119 Great North Road

Premier New Zealand car dealership The Giltrap Group needed their new Auckland Headquarters to balance beauty and function – to balance their position at the forefront of the end-to-end car sales experience while showcasing their investment in enhanced engineering and innovation through better design. The proposed mixed-use space needed to hero their ‘star-cars’ in a full-service corporate, warehouse, servicing and showroom build not yet seen in the New Zealand automotive industry. Nine levels were to connect in one luxurious, customer-focused and highly-functional build.

Working in collaboration with the client, Warren and Mahoney brought the vision of the first mixed-use, all-in-one star-car showroom and commercial office building to life. Conceived over seven years ago, the building is a first of its size and type in New Zealand. Centring on the star of the building – the automotive – the design allows cars to move freely between levels, showcasing each models’ brilliance in three glass ‘jewellery box’ frames simulating retailer corner boxes. Curved driving ramps connected each floor in a sine wave curve, allowing clients to drive in with the old, drive out with the new.

An immersive customer experience where clients could drive into the dealership, view the workshop from upper platforms, and drive out in their new purchase was facilitated by innovative sine wave-curved driving ramps. Challenges around the motors’ low-height clearance and the building’s shorter length were resolved with an in-situ concrete truss. Collaboration with Targetti New Zealand led to the development of a multi-task light, a bespoke, centralised system controlling power, data, sprinklers and lighting in one linear fitting inspired by under-car-hood engineering. Materials were specifically chosen to target a five-star, Green Star design rating.

Materials and detailing reflected the ideal customer journey. Imported, low-iron glass created crisp ‘jewellery boxes’ at street level, as a minimalist colour palette let brand insignia take centre stage. Polished concrete floors and trusses introduced a minimalist aesthetic, suited both to its engineering-focused brands and the cars driving through. Concrete apex structures provided support and a visual framing of the world’s most celebrated motors. Client views of the workshop and a centralised engineering system devised with Targetti New Zealand offers an inspiring deviation from dealership norms.