Nestled in a private rear section in Rangiora, North Canterbury, the brief for this design was to create  a family home design that takes inspiration from mid-century architecture while incorporating the  sustainable elements allowed for in a reasonably modest budget. 

With the privacy offered by established site bordering natural planting it was vital to ensure that  connection between the interior and secluded exterior areas was maintained. The functional layout  was carefully crafted to suit the orientation of the site, with three wings interconnecting the built  form, allowing seamless access to the outdoor living spaces from any part of the house. The living  wing was designed with a higher internal ceiling height, which enhances the volume of the primary  living space, and features Ashin timber panelling throughout. Locally made white clay brick and  contrasting cedar weatherboard cladding were used for the external elevations, and flat rooflines are  staggered to pay homage to mid-century architectural styles. The cedar-lined outdoor area  connecting the bedroom and main living spaces offers a covered break-out space, which can be used  all year round. Overall, the house aims to blend functionality, sustainable elements and performance  with a modest form that blends seamlessly into the established urban area.

With a series of flat roof forms predominantly facing a North-West orientation due to site restraints  and large expanses of glazing used throughout the dwelling it was recognized early in the design  process that sun studies and heat loss calculations should be used to ensure performance of the  dwelling remains high and that external inputs from heating and cooling systems remain low or not  needed at all. Polished concrete floors where used and soffit overhangs created by pushing / pulling  the external form where optimized to maximize energy efficiency from the thermal mass without  allowing the home to overheat during the warmer seasons. The in-slab water heating selected is  efficiently managed by thermostats throughout the dwelling. This system provides efficient heating  that is regulated via thermostats to ensure minimal use without any negative impact on the  environment. 

To reduce the carbon footprint of the house, we utilized locally sourced and fabricated clay brick as  the primary cladding material for the external elevations. This not only contributed to the overall  sustainability of the home but also added a unique aesthetic that was in line with the clients’ vision  and budget. Elements of the brick cladding was brought through the interior space of the home to  form a connection between the interior and exterior space on selected glazing lines. Taking cues  from mid-century design Ashin timber panelling was used extensively as wall and ceiling linings  throughout the project in both the main living area and main bedroom spaces in the house.

The simple interior layout has been arranged to provide a living, kitchen and dining space that is centred around a feature kitchen island and overhanging raw steel-clad cantilevered range hood. The  sleeping wing of the house features four private bedroom and two separate bathrooms linked by an  external glazed hallway that forms a covered outdoor entertaining area. The material palette  incorporates an extensive yet selective use of timber panelling to form ceiling linings and wall linings  throughout main living and sleeping spaces. Connection to the external gardens is provided via  expansive areas of glazing and stacking doors that open out to multiple covered and open spaces  throughout the site. 

The homes interior space features a mix of rich contrasting materials, textures and forms. A specific  material palate has been chosen for its nod to mid-century design and love of texture and colour.  Polished concrete floors act as thermal mass and as a neutral tone in rooms filled with rich timber  notes and feature walls. The kitchen joinery is a mix of a soft green prime ‘wicked’ coloured HPL and  Prime ‘Original Oak’ that is carried throughout the homes various inbuilt furniture units. Ceasarstone  ‘Primordia’ was selected and used throughout the kitchen and various joinery unit bench tops for its  colour ties through to the main colour pallet of the home. A feature cantilevered, raw steel clad,  rangehood sits matching dimensions above the kitchen island and acts as the main focal point of the  space. 

Resene ‘Gordons Green’ has been painted on selected walls offers a touch of elegance and  compliments the simple tone of Resene ‘Black white’ used throughout the home. Ashin timber  tongue and groove panelling lines the ceiling of the main living area, main bedroom and various walls  throughout the home. The bathrooms feature uncomplicated plumbing fixtures and natural stone coloured wall tiles with an earthy olive floor tile incorporated to soften the space. Sustainability has  been achieved within the interior space through the choice of natural and locally sourced materials.  Natural New Zealand wool carpets make up part of this selection with window placement in each  space deliberately placed to ensure the best solar gains.

Located - Rangiora

Completed - 2022

Photography - Stephen Goodenough

Crafted by - Majestic Housing