Easterbrook House
About
Taking its design cues from the utilitarian forms of a tent and a shed, this Titirangi home for an extended family is a duo of compact buildings that uses a humble set of materials to allow the landscape its rightful place in the scheme.
Sited for sun, seclusion and views of the surrounding bush, the main dwelling and its ‘mini me’ cousin share an aesthetic and similar planning. The primary home is conceived as a barn-like pavilion with bedrooms for adults and kids at opposite ends. A canopy-like roof is strung between these more-solid bookends like a tarpaulin.
A modest footprint of 120-square-metres called for meticulous planning with no wasted space. Although the rectangular shape is only 4 metres wide, the soaring mono-pitch roof and full-height glazing brings a feeling of capaciousness to the main living zone. A split-truss roof allows an external pergola to shade the home in summer and clerestory windows bring in low winter light. The low-key palette of glulam beams, plywood walls and ceilings, aluminium joinery and concrete floors lends a casual holiday feel.
A sunken lounge in the open-plan living zone is a modern take on the conversation pit and this change in level demarcates the space. Built-in furniture helped with space saving and includes an entertainment unit as well as an L-shaped banquette backed by bookshelves. Off the kitchen, a set of cavity sliders demarcates a spare bedroom or office. Board-and-batten detailing on this insertion further defines this zone and brings the barn-like exterior detailing indoors.
Built-in bunks in the kids’ bedrooms can readily be converted to a desk – an aspect which future proofs the home for a growing family. Pops of primary colour lend personality to an honest design that tells the story of how it was made.
Awards
Best Design Awards - Spatial Design - Residential - Finalist (2014)
Best Design Awards - Spatial Design - Colour - Finalist (2014)
NZIA Auckland Architecture Awards - Housing - (2015)
Timber Design Awards (NZ Wood) - Highly Commended - Residential Architectural Excellence - (2015)
Photographer
Emma-Jane Hetherington
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About the
Professional
Twenty years of experience coupled with an enduring spirit of youthful enthusiasm is the yin-yang balance that makes Dorrington Atcheson Architects a team that has produced so many award-winning buildings for their clients.
While every project calls for a fresh eye and an innovative approach, directors Tim Dorrington and Sam Atcheson also draw upon their considerable experience within the New Zealand marketplace.
Specialising in residential design, but with a proven track record in retail and office environments, this boutique company has quietly made their mark on the built environment, winning several NZIA awards.
Their methodology is highly collaborative, so while DAA favours contemporary design that takes its cue from mid-century modernism, its role is not to dictate but to engage with the requirements of home-owners and clients. Responding to site, budget and idiosyncrasies is all in a day’s work.
This honest approach is reflected in the materiality of their buildings where natural products are celebrated. Dorrington Atcheson Architects design functional spaces with measured proportions, a simplicity of structure and just enough surprise to delight.
- Year founded2005
- ArchiPro Member since2014
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Dorrington Atcheson Architects
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