Situated on the edge of Tamaki River, the newly constructed Boat Shed at Half Moon Bay Marina provides a large-scale, weather-proof, modern home for boat repair and maintenance services.
Being 145m long, 18m deep and 12m high, the Boat Shed comprises of a prefabricated steel structure with pre-cast concrete panel walls and a Kingspan panel roof.
All building materials and systems have been designed to endure the industrial activities within the building, as well as the harsh marine environment outside. The extensive use of off-site prefabrication has enabled faster and easier construction on-site to minimise disruptions to a fully functional busy marine boat yard.
Considering its strategic waterfront location, our design team aimed for high-quality architecture with a positive impact on its urban environment.
To reduce the visual dominance, the building was divided into three smaller blocks horizontally. The façade articulations included careful manipulation of building forms and materials.
Its building base was created by dark concrete panels of exposed aggregate and deep reveals, lightweight concrete wall panels formed the main body of the building with Pacifica patterns. White aluminum-composite panels were used to frame the building on top, adding shadows and contrast to the façade.
Simple but bold Pacifica patterns were imprinted on the main body of the building to achieve human scale and visual interests. The colour palette is predominately white and light grey, which lightens the appearance of the building and blends well into its marine surroundings. The natural colours of the concrete panels are exposed but sealed and stained with Ecotone for durability.
At the centre of the building, fifty-four aluminium fins, each designed in a unique shape, created a 3D form that changes its appearance with time.
An integrated LED lighting system also illuminates the building exterior at night to bring various visual effects to both sides of the Tamaki Estuary.