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We are proud to announce this property has just been awarded:

  • Registered Master Builders House of the Year Gold Award 2022 - Cook Strait
  • Registered Master Builders House of the Year Regional Category Winner 2022 - Cook Strait
  • Registered Master Builders House of the Year Regional Lifestyle Award Kitchen 2022 - Cook Strait
  • Registered Master Builders House of the Year Regional Lifestyle Award Outdoor Living 2022 - Cook Strait

The zenith of all client briefs is one where none exists. Add to this a spectacular section on the Tasman Cliffs with panoramic views of the sea and you have an incredibly enticing proposition for any designer.

Save for the requisites of three bedrooms, several bathrooms and references to New Zealand bach typology, this dream project was an exciting and atypical proposition for Contemporary Homes director Paul Richards.

“The client is based in the eastern seaboard of the US, and at the time I was commissioned to do the job, I didn't have a scope and didn't even have a meeting with the client. The brief was an open envelope to develop the property as a New Zealand base for the family when they visit.”

To reflect bach typology, a linear monopitch form was devised, which spans the length of the cliff front, allowing each of the rooms to take in transcendent views of the sea.

To break up the mass of the building, two modules are offset from a central module, with round glazed atriums in the connections in between, providing angulation from the central module and reflecting bach typology, where a series of extrapolated lean-tos were traditionally added on to each other over time.

On the right as you enter the property, the master bedroom suite greets you, with the garage at the front and entry to its left, which takes you past the pool and outdoor kitchen area. The central module houses the kitchen and living and the module at the far end contains the guest bedroom suites.

A monopitch roof joins all three modules, but is broken by two huge three-metre glass panels which are integrated into the roof plane and shelter the open deck areas that sit in between the passageways that link the three modules.

The roof is a Colorsteel tray profile that wraps over the back of the building, breaking up the height of the cladding.

“We didn't want to have all that cladding going to that height so wrapping it down and encasing the highlight windows in the main living area created a bit of a feature, sucking down the flat roofs – making them appear like eyebrows wrapping around the back of the building in a different colour – breaks those tall heights down to a bach scale.”

The exterior materiality was also derived from bach typology, with cedar claddings used in different profiles and orientations, and a contrasting colour stain at each end of the building and on the garage to break up the mass of the home.

Equally, the materials of the interior reflect the restrained palette of nature and the textures of the exterior, allowing the views to take centre stage.

On entry to the house through glazed pivot doors that view is taken in immediately, from the sheltered lobby space, which has the purpose of stopping doors from slamming across the house, due to the wind, which is the prominent meteorological feature of the exposed location.

A spherical sculpture draws attention out to the sea and away from the cosy living room, which is adjacent to the lobby.

Apart from the lobby, which features European oak on the floor, and the bedrooms which are carpeted, all the floors are polished concrete and composed of an exposed aggregate stone, which contains Riwaka gold and Wairau River red stones.

Paul says there were many challenges during the project, not least of all the fact that the house is sited on tricky geological material, and is only 20 metres from the edge of the cliff. To solve this issue and support a building with long spans of steel structure, extensive foundations were key.

“The ground conditions weren't particularly good, so we put 137 concrete piles underneath the raft floor, two to six metres deep to support the building.”

However, in spite of the technical difficulties of the project, Paul says the clients were delighted with their Kiwi home, when they flew in to see it for the first time.

“The best part was just getting the clients here, because they didn't have any part of the on site process at all. They walked into the home that they had asked to be designed and built and they were blown away. The client told me that this is their favourite home across the globe, so from my perspective, that’s quite an accolade.”

Photography by Caleb 

Contemporary Homes
Nelson
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On arrival at the site, the guest wing is to the right and the entry is found to the left side of the garage.
On arrival at the site, the guest wing is to the right and the entry is found to the left side of the garage.
The pool area adjacent to the entry passage connects directly with the living spaces in the central module.
The pool area adjacent to the entry passage connects directly with the living spaces in the central module.
The central module is sandwiched between two chimneys, each with a sheltered outdoor nook.
The central module is sandwiched between two chimneys, each with a sheltered outdoor nook.
A view to the sea is seen right through the house due to the narrow form of the modules.
A view to the sea is seen right through the house due to the narrow form of the modules.
The living space is bright, yet earthy in palette and clerestory windows draw light right into the heart of the home.
The living space is bright, yet earthy in palette and clerestory windows draw light right into the heart of the home.
Huge round glazed atriums are integrated into the roof plane on each side of the central module.
Huge round glazed atriums are integrated into the roof plane on each side of the central module.
A spherical sculpture on the front lawn can be seen directly from the lobby area on arrival .
A spherical sculpture on the front lawn can be seen directly from the lobby area on arrival .
The central living, dining, lounge space looks through to the covered outdoor area through a two-way fireplace.
The central living, dining, lounge space looks through to the covered outdoor area through a two-way fireplace.
The interior uses light, natural hues and materials including concrete, timber and marble to give the space a breezy bach-like holiday feel.
The interior uses light, natural hues and materials including concrete, timber and marble to give the space a breezy bach-like holiday feel.
A room in the guest module has a hotel-like vibe.
A room in the guest module has a hotel-like vibe.
As you walk in along the boardwalk to the right, visitors can enjoy an elegant water feature in the pool area.
As you walk in along the boardwalk to the right, visitors can enjoy an elegant water feature in the pool area.
The outdoor pool, barbeque, outdoor kitchen and spa area.
The outdoor pool, barbeque, outdoor kitchen and spa area.
The long, narrow, monopitch holiday home snakes along the cliff, only 20 metres from the edge.
The long, narrow, monopitch holiday home snakes along the cliff, only 20 metres from the edge.

About the
Professional

Born in Palmerston North and formally educated at Palmerston North Boys High School, Paul went on to study Engineering and completed a New Zealand Certificate of Mechanical Engineering.

After 26 years involved in Engineering and Sales & Marketing Roles, Paul was simultaneously exploring his creative instinct for architecture and construction, so Paul decided in 1996 to establish a property development and Construction business that designed and constructed architectural residential housing that was innovative, sustainable, and affordable.

After completing various property developments, in 2008 Paul established Contemporary Homes, with a dedication approach to generating architectural form and function solutions to meet a growing demand for modern and contemporary housing that was affordable. Having built and proved these concepts, Paul then added to these design principles, better building systems, and products to future proof each home, to maximise its performance, to provide a new level of living and sustainable building standards. These designs and principles reflect Paul’s very personal vision of modern and contemporary design that meets the traditions of classic Kiwi Living. At heart Paul’s unique style is inspired by form and function that creates timeless simplicity and providing affordable living solutions for today.

Since 2008, Contemporary homes have built an enviable portfolio of awarding winning homes for many clients, each uniquely crafted for site, orientation, desired living functionality, and to reflect the client’s scope and personality.

This approach builds a strong relationship between our company individuals and each client, developing a team culture while generating trust and belief in the process transposing into an awesome result.

We approach each project with a consistent process, starting with consultancy, design, quantity surveying, construction, and project management with our own in-house resources.

We are a family business with my wife Melissa managing our Show homes and Sales process and my son Jacob who is involved as Project Manager and Company administrator, each with a passion for delivering of the best experience and service.

We employ and contract skilled qualified progressive forward-thinking personnel that have the same passion and vision for finely crafted well designed homes and happy homeowners.

We are always available, approachable, and welling to design and build your home, whether it be your design or ours, we will deliver an experience you will want to repeat.