The client recalls her experiences under a tent fly bivouac whilst on solo at Outward Bound. At days end, relaxing under the fly contemplating the days efforts and relishing the adventures of the next day. This house was conceived from these basic pleasures and absorbing the beauty of the New Zealand landscape from under the erected shelter. The roof structures mimic the fly and the skin under, the tent. The ceilings and eaves fly seamlessly over the ‘tent’ providing ambiguity of interior and exterior space with the enclosed rooms retreating into the hillside. The glass surround providing almost complete exposure to the stunning views whilst being able to ‘zip up’ for protection. The loggia and deck allow a sense of being part of the landscape, to entertain in or enjoy quietly. The materials employed are of natural hues and read consistently throughout the building. The externally insulated roof, the ‘beanie’ to keep in the heat. A rustic powder room or ‘outhouse’ with a river stone hand basin and Matai vanity. New Zealand Beech is used for fitted joinery throughout. The main floor provides all living requirements of the clients, future proofing them into their latter years with guest accommodation on the upper floor. Small garden spaces chiselled out of the hillside provide for laundry drying and food production in a sunny spot with native tussocks covering the slopes to blend into the hillside. Upon returning from overseas travels, the clients were delighted to feel that the original concept had been fulfilled as the house welcomed them home with a sense of joy and peace.

Please feel free to explore this project further on the Master Builders House of the Year website for the Supreme Award for 2016 Southern region by clicking here.

An early century city villa subdivision, renovation and complete new landscaping project in the heart of Remuera. Working closely with the clients to achieve their desired classic home and garden of the finest quality for them to enjoy.

The garden design is based on formal Italian principals, softened by the English planting arrangement. Like good wine, a garden that will only get better with time.

An existing apartment in a converted commercial building in downtown Auckland was in need of some rejuvenation. With two floor levels, to give a human scale relationship to the exterior windows, the scheme was devised to unite the kitchen, dining and living spaces and defining the entry area and circulation space.  This allowed the city and harbour views to be enjoyed from both the living space and the main bedroom. The entry colour feature differentiates it from the general living area. A crisp new bathroom with feature highlights reflects the colour choices of the main living space. Bedrooms have been left clean and simple with fresh coloured accessories. Generous ceiling heights and crisp white walls give a spacious feel to the whole apartment.  

A beautiful home on Queenstown Hill for a professional couple and their teenage children. The property has stunning 180 degree views over Lake Whakatipu and the surrounding mountains. The complexity of the site terrain meant a thorough solution was required to enable easy use of the outside space from the majority of the interior rooms. The upper level terraces capture the views whilst the creation of another terrace directly off the living area allows for the sunny daytime enjoyment by the family. Whilst there is a long street frontage, a safe vehicular access has been created from the adjacent right of way onto the busy residential road.

The building form breaks from the traditional Central Otago gable roofs to have lower pitched mainly shingle spans but is in keeping with the traditional cladding materials of timber and local schist.

This home was inspired by the client's double height spaces in their Singapore apartment. This three level home on a steep site on Queenstown Hill is designed to be able to accommodate an extended family to use for periods of time and to take in the breath-taking views of Wakatipu Basin.

The dining area forms the central pivot of the home. It is surrounded by the bridge above to the master suite and home office and is adjacent to the entry and kitchen and has a direct visual connection to the living area and the panoramic views beyond. The roof lines are high to the North and West to allow all-day sun to penetrate the home. We have used traditional cladding materials of timber and local schist and incorporated a warm roof construction for the Southern climate.

A hillside mid-century timber home with great views of the city and harbour was in need of some revitalisation and re-working for better spatial arrangements.

Working with a professional couple to develop a home to suit their needs well into the future.

On a double site with an existing house in central Queenstown, a seperate two storey 2-bedroom home was developed for extra accommodation for the client.

Taking an existing relocated holiday home with negligible character and bringing it into the 21st century. Using blonded plywood linings and a fresh feature colour to bring some character to each room. Using soft minimal furnishings to provide a bit of warmth to the home along with progressively replacing the single glazing with double glazing. A strong relationship was created with the north facing rear yard with new fruit trees and vegetable garden.

An infill design for the inner suburbs of Brisbane developed for rental accommodation to complement the existing character of the early century housing stock. Traditional from the front and contemporary at the back. On a small 200sqm subdivided site as part of a larger block, this home consists of 3 separated bedrooms, a full bathroom and kitchen with direct access to the tandem carport at the side of the house and a living/dining space opening onto the rear patio space.