Wairarapa Terrace

Nestled on a quiet 819m2 Merivale site adjacent to the Wairarapa stream this 370m2 family dwelling is a new take on the traditional family home and embraces the characteristics of a minimal palate of natural honest materials. The house includes the latest in design technologies, electrical and heating systems that have all been meticulously integrated in the design within. Project details Architectural build Architect: CoLab The design idea was to achieve a timeless end result as an example of how a home doesn’t have to be complex to emphasise its beauty. From the street, a series of gabled forms encompass a central pool and courtyard within. A simple coble-stoned path draws you to the entry door, which is contained within a break between the gable forms emphasized by the cladding from each gable form returning within the entry space. Once you have passed the oversized pivot door you experience a view across the external courtyard to the open stair and bedrooms above which are terminated by a featured crab apple tree at the rear of the site. The courtyard nature of the design has given opportunities for additional outdoor courtyards around the perimeter of the site so the owners can escape the prevailing winds and enjoy the sun as it tracts around the house, while still retaining views through the house to the central court yard via full height glazing. Running the length of the main gabled pavilion is an open plan living/kitchen/dining area which is the heart of the home. All bedroom spaces are contained in the two-story pavilion forms located at the rear of the site creating privacy from the more public areas of the house. Warm oak flooring continues throughout the home. Also in keeping with the brief for a modern family home we have opted to create two kitchens in one, with the first being the kitchen in the living design area which is essentially an on-show kitchen with the second “the scullery” being tucked away behind to provide work spaces to hide the mess.