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Set back from the road the house’s street façade gives little away on approach, the two half gables are intentionally windowless on this side adding intrigue. The entry is an expanse of glass interrupted by a large timber door, this gallery-like space allows a view directly through the house to the water beyond and the stairs are a dramatic feature as one enters. Housed beyond the stairs are a discreet powder room, wine cellar and laundry.
The house pivots around a central courtyard set about a mature Gingko tree. Like the water view the tree and green space surrounding it are viewed from most areas of the house and are integral to the design.
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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