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It’s hard to miss the established Japanese maple trees that grace the location of this suburban home, tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac in Christchurch.

The work of +MAP Architects, the design responds to the client’s brief of having a peaceful place to transition into retirement.

“The clients chose the site because of their love of the established Japanese maples which line that street and the overview of a nearby stream at the back of the site. There’s also a park to the east, which offers the opportunity for uninterrupted views,” says +MAP Architect’s Sam Fastier.

When designing the home, the most important aspect was to ensure that it didn’t compete with the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

“The exterior materiality is deliberately restrained to put emphasis on the space between the buildings, rather than the house itself.”

Gable forms of dark cedar are the perfect backdrop to the colourful trees – the texture mimicking that of the environment.

Wander to the back of the property, and the theme of ‘contrast’ becomes evident. Here, a light-coloured pavilion features radial fins that express rotation against the otherwise orthogonal planning.

“The ‘pavilion’ is deliberately very white, as a strategy of almost dematerialising this into just pure architectural elements and glass,” says Sam. “The reason for this was to strongly contrast with the black forms at the front of the site – and to heighten the awareness of light and shadow from the surrounding trees.”

The client’s appreciation for minimal Japanese design and materiality continues through to the interior.

From the front door, a hallway stretches to the back of the home, emphasising its length.

“It forms an internal street,” says Sam. “And all of the private spaces are concealed behind a dark timber veneer spine wall – these spaces actually have quite bold interior finishes, but we liked the idea that these would be unexpected within the house and not revealed all at once.”

The bedrooms aren’t the only spaces that offer a sense of discovery.

“Each space reveals something different about the house. It keeps it interesting and changeable, in combination with a strong connection to the everchanging deciduous landscaping.”

As you follow the internal spine, more and more of the landscaping comes into view. A gallery of glazing links the gabled front pavilion with the white living pavilion, with a courtyard shared between the two spaces.

“The courtyard provides a meeting point that focuses and encourages life around the single Japanese maple in the middle,” says Sam, with this answering to the client’s brief of wanting the layout to not reveal itself all at once, as they enter a slower pace of life.

“They wanted circulation through the house to take its time, and to have the opportunity to enjoy an ever-changing series of views.”

Similar to the exterior materiality of the living pavilion, its interior palette is bright and airy. A mirrored kitchen splashback borrows colour from the outdoor planting and the white cabinetry and marble benchtop contrast with the slate flooring.

It is from this pavilion that the site’s landscaping can be truly enjoyed. The radial fins frame portions of greenery, and floor-to-ceiling glazing can be opened out to a sun-drenched deck.

Back inside, one last surprise awaits – a second lounge area that offers a distinctly different character to the rest of the living pavilion. An inky black introspective retreat, this space contrasts with a golden ceiling, dark joinery and a variety of textures and patterns.

“We really love that there’s a sense of mystery and discovery throughout the house.”

Words: Cassie Birrer

Photography by Stephen Goodenough

+MAP Architects
Canterbury
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A dark exterior allows the Japanese maple trees and surrounding nature to be the focus.
A dark exterior allows the Japanese maple trees and surrounding nature to be the focus.
Slate tiles continue from the exterior to the interior.
Slate tiles continue from the exterior to the interior.
A spine of dark cabinetry conceals the home's private spaces.
A spine of dark cabinetry conceals the home's private spaces.
A courtyard connects the two pavilions.
A courtyard connects the two pavilions.
Glazing opens up so that the lush landscaping can be enjoyed from the living pavilion.
Glazing opens up so that the lush landscaping can be enjoyed from the living pavilion.
Open and airy, the kitchen features a mirrored splashback.
Open and airy, the kitchen features a mirrored splashback.
A separate lounge offers the unexpected in the form of dark tones, textures and patterns.
A separate lounge offers the unexpected in the form of dark tones, textures and patterns.
An upstairs bedroom makes the most of the gable form.
An upstairs bedroom makes the most of the gable form.
The marble from the kitchen has also been used in the main bathroom.
The marble from the kitchen has also been used in the main bathroom.
Landscaping surrounds an entertaining area at the side of the property.
Landscaping surrounds an entertaining area at the side of the property.
A deck at the back of the home provides another outdoor space to enjoy the surrounding environment.
A deck at the back of the home provides another outdoor space to enjoy the surrounding environment.
Concrete 'fins' frame the view.
Concrete 'fins' frame the view.
Maple leaves contrast against the dark cedar.
Maple leaves contrast against the dark cedar.
The front door blends with the rest of the exterior materiality.
The front door blends with the rest of the exterior materiality.
A single Japanese maple sits in the central courtyard.
A single Japanese maple sits in the central courtyard.

About the
Professional

We create modern architecture that seeks to excite, lift the spirits, and create a sense of place. +MAP is a design-led studio, formed in Christchurch in 2001. The practice is a partnership between Huia Reriti and Simon Elvidge, and operates with an average of 15 to 20 staff.

We enjoy the continuity of involvement from Kerry Mason, founding partner of +MAP. We work on a broad range of projects across varied typologies, scale, and diverse locations.

The Team

Huia and Simon are supported by a core team of architectural talent consisting of Registered Architects, Graduate Architects and Architectural Technicians. The practice has grown year on year and enjoys a diverse portfolio of work; currently with 17 design staff allowing the necessary resources to continue to perform and engage with new projects.

Philosophy

We strive for creative, innovative, appropriate Architecture. We believe buildings have the ability to evoke imagery beyond the functional requirements and speak of the people, place and time that they engage with. A juxtaposition of intuitive and analytical design approaches informs a response that is regionally focused, contextual and functional.

Sustainability

We seek for each project to become a positive legacy for the owner, and for current and future generations. Sustainability and energy efficiency are core values of +MAP Architects. We take an integrated design approach, with a high level of collaboration between the client and consultant team, to ensure each project is sympathetic to environmental and programmatic requirements. The future flexibility and adaptability of each project is carefully considered.

Innovation

We approach each project as an individual challenge, with unique opportunities and constraints. A high level of collaboration with the client and consultant team informs an innovative and unique response. We consider these issues to be more important than working in a particular style and hope that each project will be an original interpretation of the client, site, brief and budget.

Collectively the Principals bring an impressive blend of design focus and detail experience to each project regardless of size and stature.