Focas House
The brief from our clients was to create for them a unique family home, maximizing harbour views, while providing the family with sheltered outside space, the use of modern architecture and a materials palette sensitive to the property’s location.
The site, narrow, in a marine environment, a former Brownfield site with high winds is located on the shores of Wellington Harbor in the suburb of Seaton. The north-south articulation of the site is ever animated by sudden changes in weather and glimpses of ships and ferries passing by.
Central to this project is the circulation spine. The Spine is anchored; both north and south by exposed concrete block forms. The central spine projects above the remainder of the home both conceptually while also passively stack venting its adjoining living and sleeping spaces. The homes living and sleeping spaces are capped under a gentle sloped roof from back to front with the main living areas and master bedroom open to the views of the harbor and neighboring shore.
Burnham Street House
Description: New Home
This is a house of two halves. Developed for clients who value privacy, and want to take advantage of their stunning views. This home has two distinct sides to it, to the south small portal windows give privacy and minimise heat loss. The north side of the property opens to the views and sun while being hidden from the street. The house comprises of two blocks following the contours of the site with a central atrium connecting them.
Mallet Prebble
Description: New Home
The clients brief was for a four bedroom family home plus office, with a kitchen and dining area and separate lounge. The site was purchased by our client to develop and fit the new dwelling along side their existing home which was sold at the end of construction. They have a young family with two children under five. Hence the main bedrooms were required to be on the same level. Our client was specific in their brief that they wanted the house to blend in with the traditional homes of the area and did not want to have to go through any resource consent process.
Our approach was to use the materials of the area and proportions of the older homes but incorporate them in a modern way. This was done using simple lines and repetitive proportions. This lead to a design solution that has pitched roofs and very strong vertical proportions nestled about an outdoor courtyard garden. The dwelling is tightly planned to be contained in the 35% allowable coverage and fit under all height controls. The result is a stylish yet simple executive home that fits the local character with its references through material use.
Pinder
Description: New Home and Carport.
Originally a proposed investment flat, this project evolved into a new dwelling for the clients, located above an existing car park. “A tin box on a steep cliff”, the simple form, low cost materials, clever use of windows, decks and interior space has created a superb modern apartment, set in the bush, with views to die for.
All the external materials are low maintenance. The interior has clean lines and a subtle colour scheme. Water is collected for garden use and earthquake storage. The silver finish gives honesty to the statement of a “tin box on a steep cliff”.
The client has fallen in love with the lifestyle of this easy to maintain hillside home after living many years in a older, draughty and cold Bungalow.
Mason
Description: Two New Townhouses.
The two Townhouses proposed on this large back section in Khandallah were designed, one as the clients home and the second as a rental investment. The houses are designed to fit into the local urban fabric through the use of pitched roofs, weatherboards, corrugated roofing and traditional window proportions. Yet true to the demands of compact town housing, the design uses indoor-outdoor thresholds, small private court yards, efficient use of space and modern interior features to reflect the occupant’s urban lifestyle.
Tightly integrated into the suburb, these two units compliment the adjoining properties and rejuvenate the under utilised property.
Van Den Borst
Description: New Home
The project site is on a north facing slope in Silverstream, private and situated in an area of native bush.
Our returning clients required a five bedroom family house with extensive garaging and storage.
The proposed house is split into two parts over two levels. A timber box to the south contains bedrooms spanning west. Further forward a descent down the stairs opens into a glass and timber box with cedar clad concrete wing walls. This north orientated box contains living areas which will frame views and maximise sunlight penetration.
The approach to the house is from the southern side of the site. There will be subtle exterior to interior thresholds as one approaches, enters and departs the proposed building. Various apertures throughout the house create visual connections to the native bush, decks from the living areas are raised up into the bush canopy.
The building is to be clad in cedar in two contrasting colours and finishes. Some stained very dark and the other coated to maintain its original tone.
A Home of a Different Kind
Description: This home is a shelter fence, created for Sassy and her foal Nishka to shelter from the strong winds often experienced at their home. The fence was designed and built in a zigzag formation and as such provides shelter from both the North and South so that Mum and Baby are always protected. Built from timber and referencing fencing styles the Shelter sits on the site comfortably without looking out of place.
Contact Details
phone 04-384 8395
email rob@architecture.gen.nz
street address 47 Cuba St, Wellington
postal address PO Box 11083, Wellington