A proposal for seven new 3.5 bathroom, 4 bedroom inner city homes on a sloping rear site in Howick. The buildings make the most of the elevated site with first floor decks facing the roof-top views to the west, while catching the midday & evening sun; and the reserve to the north lends a leafy backdrop to the site that softens its urban locale.

The client’s brief for a ‘modern-traditional kiwi’ style, was achieved through the use of gabled forms clad in horizontally & vertically scored fibre cement that recalls the weatherboards of tradition, while providing a low maintenance, high quality finish. A comfortable palette of warm greys & natural cedar lend an air of sophistication to the units, and generous planting throughout embeds each home into the site.

The proposal negotiates a variety of council requirements to provide spacious, high quality homes that provide aspirational modern luxury while sympathising with the grain of historic Howick.