By Imagine Architecture
The brief from Brent & Jazz was for a family home to provide a sanctuary on their narrow city site. Key comments early on were “Japanese/Zen/Modernist style with outdoor living and swimming pool integrated into the design”. The material palette was to include precast concrete walls, polished concrete floors and vertical cedar cladding. Outdoor living was a high priority so easy access between indoor and outdoor spaces was essential as was ensuring adequate sun was available at different times of the day to the patios and the pool.
The journey through this home begins with a concrete front fence embossed with the street number. Entering the front court via the steel gate is a lushly vegetated entry patio framed by concrete walls and large concrete soffit overhang, finishing with a large, solid cedar door. Once inside the eye is drawn through the home to the finely crafted timber & steel stairs followed by the open living space with a sophisticated white, black and timber kitchen. To create a sense of space and light the volume of the open plan living areas is extended vertically through a dining room double height space and a 3.6m lounge ceiling. The journey continues past three bedrooms & a bathroom and finishes with a short step out to the in-ground pool.
Upstairs there is the master bedroom suite, separate living room and office nook. City, mountain and coastal views are gained from this level. The master suite enjoys a generous walk through wardrobe and luxurious en-suite.
The confines of the site posed a few issues. How do we fit the spaces required and maintain a sense of space, privacy and access to sunlight? The solution was first to establish when the different spaces were to be used and then with that data in mind careful bulk modelling was done to track sun angles into the spaces at both different times of the day and the year. This process determined the optimum allocation of space and light whilst still adhering to good practice in passive solar design.
With the street frontage north facing and the garage occupying a large portion of this area access to solar gain was focussed on balancing the eastern and western sun angles in a ratio of 2/3 east and 1/3 west. The smaller, narrower western windows not only metered the solar gain in the afternoon, but they also afforded privacy from the adjacent 2 storey neighbour. With so much thermal mass storage in the walls and floors the effects of the low amount of northern glazing is somewhat mitigated.
Structure is strongly expressed in this home with the concrete ground floor, concrete walls and steel beams all fully exposed. Upper floor is also concrete. The roof is timber framed. Further expression of detail is seen through the structure of the staircase with its steel verticals providing both support and aesthetic.
The finer details of the house are accentuated with LED lighting, high spec electrical faceplates and a discreet audio system.
Photography by Kallan MacLeod
Designer: Tony Biesiek – Imagine Building Design
Builder: Pzazz Taranaki
Site area: 564m2
Floor area: 275m2
Imagine Architecture (formerly Imagine Building Design) is a multi-award-winning architectural design practice established in 2002, specialising in residential and commercial design. With over two decades of experience and more than 1,000 commissions completed, we pride ourselves on delivering high-performance, innovative, and sustainable designs that positively impact lives.
Our journey began in a humble shoebox home office, evolved into historic premises at the Kings Building in New Plymouth, and later to a sleek downtown studio. Now, we have returned to a more personal approach with small studio setups: Tony Biesiek operates out of a studio suite in in Tauranga, while Steven Dixon leads our New Plymouth studio. This agile setup allows us to better serve clients across New Zealand and beyond, with projects extending to Australia and Italy.
At Imagine Architecture, our mission is simple yet profound: “Changing lives through great architecture & design.” We aim to create beautiful, functional spaces that harmonise aesthetics, energy efficiency, and comfort while fostering a deeper connection to the environment. To achieve this, we integrate Passive House principles, with Tony Biesiek’s certification as a Passive House Designer ensuring our designs meet and exceed the highest standards of energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and thermal performance. This approach guarantees healthier, more comfortable spaces that consume significantly less energy while reducing environmental impact.
In addition to Passive House design, we embrace biophilic design principles, emphasising the integration of natural elements into our projects. We believe buildings should enhance occupants’ physical and mental well-being by fostering connections with nature, whether through natural light, ventilation, materials, or spatial relationships. Our commitment to sustainability aligns with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Glenn Murcutt’s philosophy of “touching the earth lightly.” We design in harmony with the land, crafting structures that respect and respond to their natural surroundings.
Our projects, regardless of size or budget, are rooted in a commitment to quality and performance. Meeting minimum building code standards is not our goal—exceeding them is. Whether designing a new architectural home, a commercial space, or a bespoke renovation, we focus on maximising functionality, environmental interaction, and energy efficiency without compromising on design excellence.
Our practice thrives on relationships. Many of our commissions come through referrals, reflecting our focus on creating strong connections with clients. Clear, open communication, combined with exceptional service and innovative design solutions, ensures we meet aesthetic, functional, and financial requirements while exceeding expectations.
Imagine Architecture operates on the belief that better choices lead to better buildings. We embrace cutting-edge high-performance technology and sustainable practices to deliver spaces that inspire, endure, and adapt to the changing needs of clients and the environment. From Bay of Plenty and Taranaki to international locations, geography is no barrier to architectural excellence.
If you are seeking innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally conscious design paired with technical expertise and superior communication, Imagine Architecture is the experienced team to bring your vision to life. Together, we can create spaces that not only look extraordinary but also improve lives and respect the planet.