The renovation and refresh of Chorus House—located on the corner of Wyndham and Hobson Streets—breathed new life into a once aging commercial building. Recognising its potential, we saw an opportunity to revitalise and transform it into a contemporary asset for the city. One of its key advantages was its prime location, with proximity to Queen Street, Victoria Street West, Federal Street, and the Viaduct, offering excellent access to Auckland’s urban fabric.

Our winning scheme reimagined the building’s potential—beginning with the central foyer and extending to the activation of previously underutilised areas within the envelope. By opening up new occupancies and edges, we aimed to break the rigidity of the urban block, making the building more permeable, engaging, and human in scale.

Previously nicknamed the "pink tower" due to its extensive use of pink terrazzo, one of our greatest design challenges was transforming what was once considered outdated into something refined and desirable. During concept development, we drew inspiration from the dramatic architecture of New York and Chicago—particularly buildings from the late 1800s to early 1900s. These stone structures, grand in scale and mass, often contrasted with interiors that were delicate, refined, and jewel-like.

This contrast became a key part of our design language. Carefully curated materials—brass, metal, textured glass, leather, and rich fabrics—paired with pattern, warmth, and ambient lighting create a sense of intimacy and invitation, drawing people in from the street.

The result is a transformed building and interior that exudes sophistication and drama, paying homage to the strength and character of the original 1980s structure while referencing the elegance and timelessness of the 1930s.

Work completed at Designworks