From the Architect

This was to be an architects own home, designed for her husband and two children. As such, it had to meet the needs of a growing family who often entertain. There was a 100-year old Pohutukawa tree which was to be a focus of the design.

The L-shaped plan was a reaction to the 100 year old pohutukawa tree, a significant feature of the site. On your first approach the front elevation gives nothing away. The materials speak to New Zea-land vernacular, with its black metal cladding and aluminum joinery. But its vertical fold turns to greet visitors, as if to beckon you in.

Then you cross the macrocarpa bridge (a moat of old): and the black threshold blurs into the interior, with the cladding following you in. You then travel through to the hub of the home and experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s moment of compression and release. You see walnut timber veneer kitchen and ceiling. There are also elements of delight and surprise: a green powder room and green laundry.

Much like a family, the design focuses on interconnection. The kitchen acts as the lynchpin of the design – not only as a metaphoric heart, but as the centre of the plan: a reflection of a family who have a passion for cooking and entertaining. The rooms directly converse with each other: from the kitchen you can see the deck and snug where the children play; or talk to friends at the sofa in the lounge; whilst preparing food together to put on the dining table.

The interior plays to the natural surrounds of tropical planting and the pohutukawa. The colour pal-ette is warm tones of mustard and amber with rich walnut timber, then black and green – which cre-ates moments of delight and surprise. There is an all green powder room (including the ceiling) and green laundry bench; black leathered granite to the cabinetry and bench tops; and turned brass and black handles.

The bathroom has a black and brass Lightyears ‘War-room’ wall light, while the ensuite has a Le Cor-busier ‘Applique de Marseille’ wall light fixed directly to the mirror. There is also custom made furni-ture: including a walnut coffee table and mustard occasional chairs.

There are many moments of innovation and creativity. Acoustic features are added with soft furnish-ings, an acoustic walnut ceiling and soft floaty drapery. Thematically the colour black travels throughout the home from black tongue-and-groove walls which grace the entry vestibule; to the black-on-black feature pendant over the dining table; Black hardware is used to intense detail (in-cluding handles, hinges and joinery); there are also black and brass feature pendants and wall lights. As the finishing touch art work is selected to compliment the colour scheme.