Affordable Housing
Otaki Maori Racecourse
Moller Architects was commissioned to lead the design of a masterplan for multi unit residential housing in a village environment at the Otaki Maori Racecourse, in collaboration with Wraight and Associates, McIndoe Urban, Envelope Engineering, and Stantec. The concept honours the area’s history and the natural and built environment of Otaki.
Located at the base of the Tararua Ranges, the site features gently sloping land with significant vegetation and open spaces. The racecourse, with its facilities for racing, spectators, and horse training, as well as existing grandstands and buildings, provides a unique setting for a community village. The layout integrates housing clusters around the racecourse’s northern, eastern, and western edges, maintaining a connection between the open space and the community.
An existing network of pathways along the Otaki River is enhanced by new accessible routes for walking, cycling, and accessible use, connecting to shared laneways, open spaces, and pocket parks. The plan envisions a series of urban clusters grouped around the racecourse, promoting interaction between sports activities and community life.
The housing typologies include single-unit homes, courtyard housing, terrace houses, apartments, and cluster housing with shared facilities. These homes, designed to fit the scale of the racecourse, will feature pitched roofs, verandahs, and a blend of private and communal spaces. The homes will be factory produced using advanced design and construction techniques, allowing customisation while maintaining high standards of design and affordability. This approach ensures the homes are well-suited to the coastal rural-urban setting and meet the demands of today’s economy.
The project has recently been granted a resource cosent under the fast track process.