Inspired by the success of the rejuvenated 1 Albert Street, where Auckland’s first private business members club is located, Auckland Real Estate Ltd invested a further $150 million in the purchase and transformation of three midtown buildings.
Collectively known as Formery, sites at 87 Albert, 60 Federal and 16 Kingston Streets are being sustainably upcycled and eloquently re-designed to create new, modern hybrid workspaces to expand the same tenant experience as 1 Albert St: a business club offering to culture-led businesses of all sizes that operate hybrid and flexi working models.
In the new highly connected Midtown precinct, Formery West and Formery East, occupy a total floor area of over 14,500 sqm and is designed to deliver a combination of collaborative and isolated workspaces, high-tech meeting rooms, a members’ Club Lounge, and a selection of cafes and delicatessen.
Auckland Real Estate CEO Andrew Saunders is committed to providing Auckland with clever, sustainable solutions for smart businesses that in form presents purpose-designed modern office environments and in function delivers true hybrid-working spaces that foster culture and connection. In the heart of the Auckland’s soon to be thriving Midtown district, Formery places tenants in an exceptional location, with The Green Link – a linear park that will connect Victoria Park to Albert Park – right at its doorstep, as well as mere minutes’ walk from Te Waihorotiu CRL Station, Sky City and Sky Tower, and the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
“Auckland is well on its way to becoming a world-class international city, with masterful urban planning that will see it transform in the years to come. The Formery is well-placed right in the heart of the city’s regeneration and will put tenants at the doorstep of Auckland’s bold new Midtown precinct and amongst some of Auckland’s most recognisable and anticipated landmarks.” says Saunders.
“Along with all the member benefits of 1 Albert – concierge, member’s lounge, hosted event spaces – we’ve designed Formery to give businesses smart solutions to foster culture and community, the bedrock of any hybrid working model. We are also focused on sustainability and have a goal in which our tenants can also benefit. Not only are we upcycling the buildings, but they also have a Net Building Score (NBS) of 100% and we are seeking a NABERS rating of 4.5.
The property has been artfully brought to life by the teams at CTRL Space and Coco Republic, Formery offers tenants a sophisticated environment matched with high functionality,” adds Saunders.
The Formery’s uncomplicated and contemporary interior design was led by local firm CTRL Space who have drawn on their many years of hospitality design projects to craft a design identity centered around sociability and connection – the new driving force of a post-pandemic workforce.
“The spaces have been extensively layered, merging domestic and hospitality sensibilities with a working environment, where the feel is more club than corporate. This further reinforces the sense of sociability and connectivity – we drew on our many years of hospitality design experience to intertwine this into a commercial context.“ says Chris Stevens of CTRL Space.
Utilising as much of the existing fabric of the buildings, the interior design presents a combination of new materials featuring rich teal-blue paneling, warm oak flooring, tan leathers and rich drapery sitting against the raw character of stripped back concrete columns and exposed ceilings and services. “This gives the space the perfect balance of old and new, raw and refined – an unexpected design in a corporate context “ says Stevens, “we wanted to create an environment that would entice the workforce out of their homes and back into the city, providing unique and compelling workspaces.”
Bringing the interior identity to life was in the hands of Coco Republic, whose Senior Interior Designer Georgina Holmes says was led by the need to ensure the right ambience was crafted with their curation of furnishings.
“The Formery has a clear character of its own, the main design goal was to create a sophisticated and exciting environment without complicating the concept of a hybrid working model. While hybrid workspaces are not a new concept, very few get the ambience right. With first-hand experience in renowned members only clubs, we had a clear vision of how we wanted Formery to function and the design to be executed”, says Holmes.
“The eclectic but curated aesthetic flows throughout at Formery, paying homage to a mix of styles – using a combination of vintage inspired items, globally recognised patterns and a substantial injection of vibrant colour. Visiting a workspace that you can enjoy just as much as your own home (and on occasion sometimes more) is just how we want the members of The Formery to feel,” adds Holmes.
The Formery sees Alberts expand from downtown to midtown with early mover foresight. Midtown Auckland’s Aotea Quarter is set to emerge from a long ‘under construction’ phase and regain its heart as Auckland’s centre of arts and culture, academic and modern businesses as well as the main entrance to Auckland’s CBD via Aotea Station, with up to 54,000 commuters per hour projected to pass through the station at peak times.
Spaces and memberships at Formery by Alberts are now available.
Enquiries to theformery.nz or speak to your preferred agent.
