Description:

Burntwood presented a unique opportunity to design a home that would balance strong site presence with deep privacy and connection to nature. Situated on the prominent Pegasus Golf Course in North Canterbury, the property is highly visible from the main road leading into the township, while overlooking expansive fairways and a pond to the north. The client’s brief was clear: create a residence using raw, industrial materials—specifically concrete, steel, and glass—that would feel both robust and refined, offering privacy from the public realm but openness to the landscape.

Our approach responded directly to these site conditions and client aspirations. The building form stretches along the east-west axis, allowing the home to follow the natural contours and maximise northern sun exposure. Internal courtyards are carefully integrated into the plan to provide protected outdoor spaces that invite natural light and greenery deep into the heart of the home. These courtyards function as sheltered retreats, breaking up the mass of the building and creating moments of intimacy while also offering passive ventilation and improving indoor environmental quality.

A central Corten steel blade runs north-south through the home, physically dividing the wings and acting as a strong architectural spine that organizes circulation and spatial flow. This element reinforces the material palette’s industrial character and anchors the composition.

Material honesty is fundamental to the design. Exposed precast concrete panels form both the exterior and interior walls, creating thermal mass that enhances energy efficiency while expressing the building’s structural logic. The warmth of European oak wall linings and joinery units contrasts with the rawness of the concrete and steel, adding tactile richness and human scale to the interior environment. Large areas of structural glazing maximise views to the golf course, connecting occupants to the site while maintaining privacy from the road.

Passive environmental strategies are embedded throughout the project. The concrete thermal mass moderates temperature swings, while roof overhangs and operable windows enable natural cross-ventilation. These strategies reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling, lowering the home’s carbon footprint. Internal courtyards further support daylighting and airflow, fostering a healthy indoor environment.

The project has yielded multiple outcomes beyond fulfilling the client brief. It sets a benchmark for thoughtful, site-responsive residential design within the Pegasus development, inspiring neighbouring projects to elevate design standards. The house balances a strong architectural identity with liveability, delivering a home that feels both protective and connected, raw yet refined.