IMPRES

A Christchurch showroom, office and warehouse built around one business

AO Architecture designed this purpose-built Christchurch premises for IMPRES, a supplier of florist, packaging and event products. The building brings the customer-facing showroom, staff offices and stock warehouse together in one place. The practical warehouse sits behind, while the showroom and cedar-clad offices form the public face of the business.

Showroom in front, stock behind

Customers arrive directly into the ground-floor showroom, surrounded by the products IMPRES supplies. The offices sit immediately above, while the warehouse behind holds the much larger volume of stock needed to support the business.

Keeping those three functions together makes the building easy to understand. Customers stay at the front, staff are close to both showroom and warehouse, and stock remains directly connected to the day-to-day operation rather than occupying a separate facility.

Giving the offices a stronger presence

Above the showroom, cedar wraps the office level and sets it apart from the more utilitarian warehouse behind. Large Alucobond surrounds project beyond the upper windows, creating deep black frames around the glazing.

Those ‘eyebrows’ do two jobs. They shade the office windows from direct sun and give the street elevation its most recognisable feature. The cedar sits between them as a warmer counterpoint to the aluminium, turning what could have been a straightforward office box into the part of the building you notice first.

AO Architecture provided full architectural services and remained involved through construction.