Registered Master Builder Gold & Gold Reserve House of the Year Award – Christchurch New Architectural Hill Build 2019

A Perfect Blend

The Fleetwood Construction team are proud to build award-winning hillside homes around some of Canterbury’s most admired views. The Terrace is no exception, and perfectly blends its owners’ desires with superb architectural design by Sheppard & Rout Architects and Fleetwood Construction’s renowned approach to building houses with all their expertise and passion.

Creating a Danish Inspired Home

Owners Karen and Ole’s love of Danish design is reflected throughout this stylish, contemporary Governors Bay home which boasts commanding views straight down the harbour and out to sea.

Important for the couple was creating a home that evoked a feeling of hygge – a Danish word which encompasses a feeling of warm contentment and wellbeing through simplicity.

The interior is all white walls and ceilings, black steel detailing with light timber floors, carpeting in bedrooms and exposed aggregate flooring. The exterior is light oiled cedar, black steel frames and balustrades, raw concrete courtyard walls and discrete dark metal cladding. Simple, uncluttered finishes and spaces with everything in its place.

We Love Hillside Challenges

While the finished house evokes simplicity, the steep site was not without its challenges. Building an architectural home on the hill always brings some unique challenges. Access for building materials and equipment is often limited and requires a high level of planning and coordination.

The Fleetwood team are experts at building on hill site sections and thrive on challenges. In this instance, there were eight different types of foundations and retaining walls to construct and the team enjoyed the challenge of moving large pre-made materials, including a 22m long steel frame and 4.6m long precast concrete panel, along the narrow road and on to site for a precision fit.

Karen and Ole were confident our team could deliver given our attention to detail and our love for the project, and we did!

Walking Through The Terrace

Building their beautiful home over split levels cleverly maximised the use of the site met all the clients’ needs and made the most of the harbour views from the main rooms as well as allowing sun into living areas, bedrooms and the slender veranda that runs the length of the home. A custom-made floating concrete staircase leads to the main entrance, which opens into living areas that capture and beautifully frame the harbour view. The kitchen features a scullery and a striking kitchen island; the slim stainless steel benchtop and black matt steel modular detailing draws you in and adds to the feeling of hygge. It not only looks like a piece of art, it is a perfect fit for the architectural heart of the home.

The veranda is enhanced with sleek floor to ceiling sliding doors while sliding panels add privacy and shelter from the morning sun. Stepped above the living areas, and designed to follow the contour lines, is a study and garage joined by an intimate courtyard. The master bedroom with ensuite is light-filled with unsurpassed harbour views. Two additional bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the 210sqm home. The house embodies the concept of hygge and the love and thought brought to the build by our clients, the architect and our team.