Description:

On approach the house sits lightly upon the land, a striking terracotta against the backdrop of the sky, and green of the surrounding bush and paddocks. It’s not often that such a perfect site presents itself, almost flat, private and surrounded by native bush.

The brief was fairly straight forward, a family home making the most of the sun and views, with open plan kitchen/living/dining, overhanging eaves to provide shade and covered decks to provide outdoor living year round. Materials were to be low maintenance and easy care and the main visual reference was for a Palm Springs-style home.

Careful consideration was given to the siting of the house as proximity to the bush on the southern side was important but not at the expense of losing the sun. The house is orientated facing north for the view, sun and privacy. The covered deck opening from the kitchen receives the morning sun providing an outdoor room and the late afternoon sun streams into the main living area.
There is no shortage of outdoor living spaces, the kitchen outdoor room includes high-level glazing and a glass ceiling making it a delightfully sheltered spot in all weathers. The northern covered deck provides an area for sun worshipping and the southern deck a sun-free option. There is also a private deck coming off the main bedroom.

As a home for a couple and young adult son, separate zones were requested, a separate wing provides guest bedrooms/bathroom, an office space and a walk-in linen cupboard, closed off by a sliding reeded glass door. Essentially this space can be closed when no one else is in residence.

The brick exterior walls are repeated in the living areas bringing a warmth and tactility to the space and providing a beautiful backdrop for the owner's mid-century collection. The timber floors, statement timber beams and timber cabinetry in the kitchen complete the aesthetic.

The timber detailing continues outside with a datum line of hardwood wrapping ribbon-like around the entire building. This sits on top of the brick walls with the roof hovering above. There is a lightness to the way the house sits on the land but the materials used have a permanence and weightiness to them, reflected in the quality of the build and the fact this is the clients’ forever home.

The language and cues are mid-century with a modern New Zealand interpretation. The angled roofs and the flat-roofed open carport provides a second entry to the house bypassing the laundry and WC en route, as well as providing a screen to the southern aspect of the house. The laundry space is spacious and acts as a boot room, ideal for country living.

Having owned the land for some time and lived next door, the clients are thrilled to be living in their jewel-box of a home, strikingly modern but filled with mid-century charm.