Bell Duo

The new showroom, warehouse and office complex at 2 Toorea Street in Papamoa offers 565 sqm in a convenient location, just off the Papamoa expressway and a short drive from the port and downtown Tauranga.  

The design uses stages of vertical lines, beginning with the tight lines of the cladding, extending up to the more generously spaced louvres, then onto the blue panels that run around the top of the building and down selected sides.  The louvred strip provides solar control to the interior mezzanine and adds texture to the building, helping build a character that’s worthy of the prominent corner position. 

Solaris 200 louvres were used on the north, east and south elevations.  Orientated vertically, the blade lengths vary from 1550mm to 2650mm, with 210 louvres used in total, fixed with channel end brackets.  The powder coat colour of Sandstone Grey is the same as the wall cladding.

The finished building is an example of functional and aesthetic simplicity.  Everything works, adding impact without unnecessary detail, creating a building that has a meaningful presence and will be noticed by those who travel past it.  We think it’ll be appreciated by those working inside, too.  Especially if they have to spend time on the mezzanine floor in summer, which will remain pleasantly cool thanks to the louvres. 

Architect  Thorne Group Architecture

Location  Papamoa