Drawing a parallel to a cloud formation in the inner city suburb of Parnell in Auckland, Cumulus is a small mixed use commercial building set around a sky courtyard.

The meteorological definition of ‘cumulus’ describes the form as masses of cloud heaped on each other and having a horizontal base at low altitude. The Cumulus building floats above street level in a long accretion of featured glass reinforced concrete panelling.

The client, Samson Corporation, wanted longevity and to buck the trend for fashion-led developments that have a short tenanted life. Three levels of parking are included below eight generous office tenancies. One is led by elevator up into the ‘cloud’ and deposited into the garden with views to the sky above.