Description:

Burntwood is a distinctive residence situated on the Pegasus Golf Course in North Canterbury, designed to respond thoughtfully to its unique site and client brief. The property’s visibility from the township’s main road presented a design challenge: how to create a strong architectural presence that offers privacy while simultaneously embracing the expansive views to the north across the golf course and pond.

The clients sought a home that combined raw, industrial materials with a refined living environment. Their preference for precast concrete, Corten steel, and natural stone informed a material palette that expresses durability, honesty, and a connection to the local landscape. The design approach balanced these robust materials with warmer natural finishes inside, creating a home that feels both protective and inviting.

The building stretches east to west, following the natural contours of the site to maximize solar access and optimize passive environmental performance. This linear form allows the northern elevation to open fully with large glazed areas and integrated internal courtyards, which bring natural light deep into the home and offer protected outdoor spaces. These courtyards also function as sheltered retreats, buffering the house from prevailing winds and creating intimate connections to the outdoors.

A defining architectural feature is the vertical Corten steel blade that runs north-south through the home, dividing it into two distinct wings. This element acts as both a structural spine and a visual anchor, reinforcing the home’s material honesty and conceptual balance between enclosure and openness.

The exterior presents a strong, bunker-like façade to the street, ensuring privacy and security, while the northern side opens generously to the landscape. This contrast is central to the design narrative: a home that protects and reveals in equal measure.

Internally, warm European oak and walnut finishes contrast the industrial shell, adding texture and comfort. The layout promotes fluid movement between living spaces and outdoor terraces, encouraging a strong connection with nature and fostering wellbeing.

Beyond aesthetics and environmental performance, Burntwood contributes meaningfully to the Pegasus community by setting a benchmark for site-responsive, high-quality residential design. It embodies a contemporary architectural response to local context, client aspirations, and sustainability goals.