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The kitchen, living, dining and outdoor room open on one side to the east-facing garden, and on the other to the pool courtyard. With the sliders open the courtyard becomes an extension of the main living and gallery, connecting this space seamlessly to the rest of the house.
Strong axes are formed from the entry down the length of the gallery to the garden beyond and along the length of the pool to the courtyard garden and spa area. The interior design was handled by Debra Gardien, artfully working in with the architecture.
The front yard and entrance were designed so a mature Pururi tree could be retained. Two garage blocks with guest spaces above each, create a very private façade. The space between the two blocks creates the entry space.
The main bedroom suite has its own access via stairs from the entry gallery. Glass sliders can be opened for uninterrupted views over the pool and courtyard to the city and harbor beyond. The gallery is divided into two – public and private, the private hallway can be closed down and links the living area to the children’s bedrooms and service areas.
A sunken lounge concealed behind the kitchen is a deliberate contrast to the openness and light of the main living area. Here subdued light, plush furnishings and carpeting provide a cozy snug to retreat to. The window providing a view of the garden echoes a similar window in the butler’s pantry.
Materials used include stone cladding over concrete block and stained vertical cedar shiplap weatherboards, black powder coated aluminium window frames and Colorsteel tray roofing and membrane roofing.
Awards
NZIA Local Award for Residential Architecture (2013)
Best Design Awards - Spatial Design - Residential - Bronze (2013)
Photographer
Emma-Jane Hetherington
We're an architecture and design studio creating warm spaces for human connection. We believe architecture thrives on play and exploration, where clever solutions and clear dialogue create a dynamic interplay between all the elements of a project, bringing them all into balance.
Our directors, Tim Dorrington and Sam Atcheson, have spent over twenty years developing a design philosophy that's playful, balanced and inclusive. Clever solutions to interesting challenges are one of the hallmarks of our work, as is an eternally-youthful enthusiasm for creating truly transformative design. We like to think of it as delivering just enough surprise to truly delight our clients.
We're proud of the impact our team has made on the built environment of Aotearoa, with multiple NZIA Awards to our name and a roster of happy clients. We specialise in residential projects, but have also had success with retail and commercial environments.
Our approach is highly collaborative. While we often draw on the rich lineage of mid-century modernism, we're not design dictators. Every project is a response to site, budget and our clients dreams and objectives. It's an honest and open process, which reflects in the materiality of our buildings and the experience of the spaces we create.
Our design philosophy:
playful, human, balanced, clever, inclusive, transformative.
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