Co-founder Mark Todd says he spent a long time working out exactly which combination of colours would work best for the unique building, “I wanted to bring more brightness to our beautiful city and an unashamedly feminine aspect to the aesthetics.”

Of course, Ockham is no stranger to bold colour schemes, with The Greenhouse’s iridescent, green-glazed bricks a true city highlight.

For The Kubrick, Mark turned to the hydrangea – a familiar presence in Freemans Bay’s villa gardens – for its palette.

“The hydrangea is a very common flower in the area’s old villas and comes in a range of colours, from pink lavenders though to light and quite vivid blues,” says Mark. “So, that’s where I started.”

The hues of a hydrangea are realised in handcrafted bricks from Sant’Anselmo, the Italian manufacturer that also produced the bricks that clad The Greenhouse in Ponsonby.

Mark picked out twelve tonal variations of bricks for The Kubrick. Each one is triple-fired – clay, colour, then a lustre glaze, resulting in a stunning iridescence.

“It’s a bit like mother of pearl and reflects like oil on water, so you get these beautiful pinky blue soap bubbles of reflection that tie the colours together as you walk towards the building,” he enthuses.

Powder-coated aluminium panels, pressed with abstracted hydrangea patterns, add another layer, giving the building texture and identity.

The move away from neutral or beige urban tones is deliberate.

“There’s been a heaviness to cities in recent years,” says Mark. “We wanted to counter that to bring in something lighter, more generous.

“It’s also about embracing colour in a way other cities do confidently. I believe Auckland can do that too and do it beautifully.”

The singular site The Kubrick occupies amplifies the effect. Opening onto Harry Dansey Reserve, the building is surrounded by green, yet it’s just moments from the city.

“You’re looking at the skyline and the Sky Tower, but you’re surrounded by trees,” Mark adds. “It’s a rare combination.

“I was almost going to call the building New Titirangi because all you can see in every direction is trees, no matter what apartment you’re in.”