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Set upon the cliffs of the Ruamahanga River,  Glenmorvan House appears nestled within the undulating farmland. Upon arrival, the full length of the house presents a fortress-like facade with high precast concrete and river stone walls punctuated by narrow windows. The interior opens up to reveal elevated views overlooking the River and Tararua Ranges beyond. 

A strong East to West axis orders the house, expressed with a simple spine from which a series of skillion roofs flutter above the ridge line. Wide steps down to a breezeway continue the spine through a separate shearers quarters and equipment shed block. Living and bedroom spaces open off the gallery to the North with bathrooms, laundry and garage to the South.

An in situ concrete wall featuring an embossed ‘piano key’ pattern defines the gallery axis. Materials are honest and robust in response to the site’s rural context. River stones, dark stained cedar and walnut provide natural textures and a warm earthy pallet. 
 

Professionals used in
Wairarapa House

About the
Professional

Over 30 years Custance has become a respected and multi-award winning practice. Using our collective knowledge, experience and empathy, we have created spaces that transform people’s lives and better equip them to accommodate change.

The tools we traditionally use are strategic planning, architecture, interior design and industrial design, however we have learned to wield them in different ways. We have developed these tools to allow people and organisations to experience space that is fully human and fully alive; space to live well, to create, to innovate and to grow – to enable face to face contact in a way that digital space does not.

Clients return to us in both New Zealand and for 14 years now, Australia, where we’ve built a multi-disciplinary, trans-Tasman practice that focuses on people and their well being, not just the places we build for them. We believe in human touch and those two words hold the secret of our longevity.

Before we begin any commission, whether a home , a corporate interior, a new building, an urban master plan or a strategic vision, we begin by discovering answers to fundamental human questions. Who? What? Why? For us these come before the traditional ‘where’, ‘when’ and ‘how’ of the brief and build specifications. They help us see beyond immediate needs. They help us understand people and design spaces that have enduring value.