From the Architect

The client is an architect, her husband and two children. The idea was to create a family home which was comfortable and suitable to family life, whilst being modern and design-driven. However, the interior was to feel light-hearted and playful, and was not to take itself too seriously. It would handle the happy buzz of people over having dinner; or for a crowded party; but would also a peaceful place to relax alone.

From a distance the house sits like a blackbird atop a hill, watching and waiting (a nod to the legend of Maui and Tieke): with its black vertical metal corrugate cladding and matching black aluminum joinery.

The profile of the house is an elegant gable which peers through the surrounding urban landscape. This was an important trick to the design: how to shimmy itself into a small site in the much beloved suburb of Grey Lynn. It seems settled into its busy neighbourhood. It is different and in happy con-trast to the other buildings – they are all dancing together “Under a Surrey Crescent Moon”.

On the ground floor there is an open plan of Living, Dining and Kitchen (which has a Scullery). There is also a separate Lounge. It is a four-bedroom house, and all the bedrooms are upstairs. The main bed-room has an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. Also upstairs is the main bathroom. There is a generous stair linking the two floors.

The kitchen is dark grey melamine on the rear wall, with a stainless steel bench. The island bench has a seaweed green lacquered face, which is routed with a chevron pattern, and is dressed with four black steel Hay revolver stools. The island benchtop is honed black granite.

There is a theme of circles: the screen is a nonsensical Morse code of dots and dashes (standard pine circular and rectangular profiles, rotated in plan to create a feeling of movement); Flos IC pendants; a Eames ‘Hang it all’; Mutina floor tiles in the bathrooms and entry.

Colour breaks up the spaces, adding delight and playfulness: Black (which speaks to the exterior): stair handrail and Aalto pendants; island benchtop; steel cap to the concrete stair. Pastels: Cirque pendant; accessories and trays; and Gavin Hurley art. Dark sea tones: The green front to the island; plants; the bedroom linen, towels; and accessories. Then grey creates a back drop to these: curtains, polished concrete floor.

Every part of the site is considered. To the west a long garden takes in the afternoon with chairs, a dining table and BBQ. To the east is a service court which houses the washing line, vegetable garden, storage sheds and rubbish bay. The motor court has parking for three cars.