May Residence
By Imagine Architecture
A site with complex contours and a brief for a large multilevel home for an owner/builder was the starting point for this project. The client’s requirements were for a home with 3 large bedrooms, a large office for his building business, large airy living areas and generous outdoor living space. The desire was for a tall and dramatic entry with attention to detail in the finish which would enable the owner to demonstrate his building skills to his clientele.
The form of the house was developed from the need notion of sculpting the house to the land rather than sculpting the land to the house. This was done by creating spaces around the contours and balancing any excavation with landscaping that would connect the house well with its environment. The house features high levels of specification with architectural series window joinery, extensive timber joinery and detailing, exposed steelwork and glass balustrading.
Key to the success of the design was the provision for ample entertaining space both internally and externally. This requirement is exemplified by the well-appointed outdoor kitchen which includes BBQ, sink, fridge and dishwasher in a stainless steel topped island. In contrast to the entertaining/social aspect of the home the master retreat on the upper level is the ultimate hideaway. It is spacious and self-contained complete with a kitchenette, large en-suite with bath and generous dressing room. A lift connects all four levels ensuring total accessibility. Relationships between spaces was critical with private and public spaces separated yet accessible.
A spur in the contour of the site provided a strong aspect for siting the main living spaces with its orientation to the sun, lake and native bush views. The layered roof planes were designed to float over the structure providing drama and protection. Large cantilevers are evident on the living room roof and are matched by the deck below. Approaching from the road above demanded special attention to keeping the membrane roof form clean with simple falls and minimal complex junctions ensuring an elegant aesthetic.
The entrance is connected to the exterior via a macrocarpa sleeper board walk with galvanised steel cantilevered pergola frames. The adjacent carport provides covered guest parking. The entry foyer with its 6m ceiling provides many vantage points giving numerous site lines within the home as well as to the outdoor vistas. Mid stair landing provides a connection to the living room with its 4.8m and 3m ceilings. The large areas of glazing have been offset with wide roof overhangs with the sun angles being carefully calculated in a low-tech, passive solar design approach of harnessing and managing the sun’s energy, storing it through a highly insulated envelope. To cool the house excellent cross-flow ventilation enhanced by the stack effect of the living and entrance atrium which have motorised high level opening windows. Heating is by a gas fire and ducted air source heat pump. The large basement garage provides generous workshop space, laundry and bathroom ensuring a practical base for the client’s business.
Colours & Materials:
- Wall Cladding: Western Red Cedar Weatherboard, Plaster render over AAC panel
- Roofing: Enviroclad TPO Membrane
- Ceiling panelling: Western Red Cedar
- Timber Floor: Sustainable Akwa hardwoord planks
- Kitchen: Lacquered cabinetry and Caeaserstone tops
- Decking: Vitex
- Lighting: LED
Products used in
May Residence
Professionals used in
May Residence
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Imagine Architecture (formally Imagine Building Design) is a multi-award winning architectural design practice that has been in business since 2002 with specialist expertise in Residential and Commercial design. Our practice has evolved through many iterations over the years. From starting in a shoebox home office, to growing into occupying historic premises at the Kings Building in New Plymouth, then to a sleek downtown high street practice. We have now gone back to our roots with small studio setups for Tony Biesiek out of Think Co in Tauranga and Steven Dixon in New Plymouth.
“Changing lives through great architecture & design”. That is the mission of Imagine Architecture. Since 2002, we have sought to infuse that mission into every project. Our designs are for high performance buildings that change lives. To achieve this, we combine aesthetics & energy efficiency with comfort & architectural appeal, function & use of space with quality interaction with the environment.
This approach is applied across all our projects irrespective of size or budget. We believe there is opportunity in every project to make better choices. This is accomplished thanks to better decision making to improve the quality of the space experienced by its occupants. Merely meeting minimum building code requirements is not enough. Exceeding minimums is the key to better buildings, be they new architectural homes or commercial structures. Optimum performance ahead of minimum compliance every time. Architecture with attitude!
Imagine Architecture aspires to uphold the Pritzker Architecture Prizewinner Glenn Murcutt’s ideal: ‘to touch the earth lightly’. This means we look at how nature has crafted the environment to this point in time, and form our design in relationship to that. For example, we have sculpted designs to the land, rather than the land to the design. Nature has brought us those spaces, so we strive to design structures to be harmonious with that nature. As custodians we seek to protect the environment through diligent stewardship and utilisation of the best high performance technology.
Our experience in over 1000 commissions to date is wide and diverse. In addition to servicing Bay of Plenty and Taranaki, we have commissions throughout New Zealand and have projects in Australia and Italy. In this modern age, geography is no barrier to delivering architectural excellence. The Imagine Architecture team's track record shows an ability to adapt quickly to client changes, government legislation and technical site situations. We have specialist experience in:
Residential homes and renovations
- Sustainable and Energy Efficient architecture
- Recreation & Parks facilities
- Apartments & Townhouses
- Mobility design and disabled access
- Retirement homes
- Gymnasia
- Schools & ECE
- Property development & investment units
- Industrial facilities
- Restaurant and retail design
- Shipping Container buildings
- Feasibility Studies
- Motels and Motor Lodges
Imagine Architecture promotes itself on the principle of “relationship marketing”. A large number of commissions come to Imagine Architecture by way of referrals from existing clients. This method of marketing reflects our philosophy of creating quality relationships with clients. This is achieved by friendly, clear and up front communication matched with a quality design service that meets the aesthetic, functional & financial requirements of the client.
Imagine Architecture is the experienced team to use if you are looking for innovative design that respects the environment, quality technical documentation, superior service through excellent communication.
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