Planners Report.pdf - Hutt City Council

Building modulation
7.51 Mr Gjerde considers the proposal satisfies these performance standards in a
contemporary manner and both principal street facades are well modulated. I note
that Mr Gjerde disagrees with the suggestion on the drawing that the roof deck
balustrade could be perceived as a recessed parapet.
7.52 I concur with Mr Gjerde’s comments and while I have noted his comments on the
perceived recessed parapet, on balance I consider the proposal to meet this
performance standard when assessed in an urban design capacity.
Wall materials and openings
7.53 Mr Gjerde considers that at street level, the proposal largely satisfies the design
criteria. Above verandah level, the project includes significant areas of glazing that will
be either recessed behind the balustrades or concealed behind the fixed louvers.
7.54 Mr Gjerde’s initial review raised concerns with the proposed operable louver system.
In order to satisfy this performance standard, it is considered the walls should appear
solid. Based on the additional information provided by the applicant on 28 March
2012, Mr Gjerde considers the spacing of the louvers should be tightened up so that
the screen element is meant to read as a variation on a solid wall element. Mr Gjerde
does not consider this will be reading and that 80mm spacing is the maximum he
would consider given the relative thinness of the louver blades. Mr Gjerde considers
the key is the appearance of the screen and not the extent to which people inside the
building are able to see out and that the design guide is about protecting the character
of Jackson Street.
7.55 Mr Gjerde notes in his review of 29 March 2012, that the screen is suggested to be
sliding and has queried where it will slide to and how the building will appear then. Mr
Gjerde considers the screen must be stationary in order to create a sense of order in
these facades. He also notes that the louvers are now somewhat deeper than the
frame. His expectations, based on the initial drawings, are that the louvered screen
will have a definite and substantial frame around each panel. This will require the
details put forward in the additional information provided by the applicant on 28 March
2012 to be modified. Due to this report being required for circulation, Mr Gjerde
considered this could be addressed by a condition of consent.
7.56 In responding to the applicant’s query as to whether the roof top balustrades on the
northern, eastern and western facades could be either timber or the same material as
the louvers, Mr Gjerde considers the project will be at odds with its surroundings in
this sense and that his suggestion is to use timber above roof level was to limit the
extent of the ‘clinical’ appearance of the design. He agrees that a textured surface, as