A bespoke Wellington home for retiring in style – Matipo House

By Studio Pacific Architecture

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Year of completion
2021
Building style
Contemporary
Studio Pacific Architecture
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The three-bedroom home in Wellington’s Eastbourne is predominantly formed-concrete and cedar, says Richard Beatson of Studio Pacific Architecture. “The material palette is deliberately limited to maintain clarity in the design. It’s a contemporary interpretation of a mid-century style in scale, form and materiality.”
“The clerestory windows really unlock the centre of the house. The stud height is nearly four metres in here, and glazed all around. The concrete wall down the middle is a very strong pivot point between all parts of the house and becomes a gallery space.”
Studio Pacific Architecture also designed the kitchen. “We do like to do the kitchens as well, they’re really a focus in any house.”
The client requested a black kitchen, says Richard, and they sourced their own stone for the benchtop. The tapware is by Dornbracht and the sink is Burns & Ferrall.
The homeowners have extensive art and ceramics collections. A niche in the formed concrete was created to display a sculptural piece. Real Fires fireplaces face both the living area and the den.
“Externally it’s all insulated concrete,” says Richard, “and we have a hydronically heated concrete floor and walls that are exposed to the sun, which allows us to get a good passive solar gain. Concrete is an interesting material. While the house has rectilinear forms, concrete is quite malleable by nature. It’s low-maintenance and with some craft and care can give a texturally sophisticated aesthetic. Properly used it can help to store and conserve solar energy for a more stable internal temperature gradient.”
Lighting is by Lightplan and the carpet is Bremworth.
A floating wing wall on the right screens the terrace from southerly winds and provides a sense of enclosure. The cosy window seat in the den area looks over the garden.
“The house incorporates a warm roof construction that allows us to better control the internal thermal environment and reduce overall heating demands,” says Richard.

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