• Designer:                     Tony Biesiek – Imagine Building Design
• Builder:                        Pepper Construction
• Structural:                    Red Jacket
• Interiors:                      Tony Biesiek/Casey Plummer – Imagine Building Design
• Kitchen design:           Tony Biesiek/Casey Plummer – Imagine Building Design
• Photography:               Kallan MacLeod
• Site area:                      2940m2
• Floor area:                   228m2

Project Description:

Standing atop a small knoll, the only relief on what was otherwise flat contour, inspired the idea to have the house sit above the land, rather than on it. The hint for this notion was that every time you visited the site you found yourself walk to the top of the knoll! Located just outside the village of Urenui in North Taranaki with expansive rural valley outlooks the elevated building platform enables total access to these views, maximise sun & light and setting the house prominently on a plinth.

Key client brief requirements were for a home that sat comfortably in a rural environment, to be a warm environment both functionally & visually and have private outdoor living spaces that connected to the views. As owners of a local store a small home office was needed, and this was required to be near the living areas yet easily closed off when required. Yellow and blue colour accents are a nod to Mrs Cox’s Thai heritage.

A socially oriented kitchen was required with access to the outdoor spaces on both sides of the house. A large island was desired and to include the cooktop ready for the host to amaze the assembled guests. One of the patios also required a roof for protection from the elements.

Design Features and Creative Solution:

The key theme of the design, in section, was two opposing wedge forms that passed each other. The wedge to the living spaces is skillion roofed which mimics the slope down the site which is further accentuated with the lounge at the end of the house set lower “at the bottom of the slope”. With the gas fire in the lounge as the primary heat source the warm air “moves up the slope” effectively heating the whole home. The long slim plan serves the twin purposes of access to the valley views and access to sun & light. Sight lines were carefully considered for each room. Along the sides of the plan are numerous patio and deck areas providing connection to the exterior for the living areas and master bedroom.

FSC certified sustainable Siberian Larch was chosen for the wall cladding. It has been left to weather naturally to minimise maintenance and give a look akin to local rural macrocarpa sided sheds and barns. Rainwater is harvested and stored in tanks to supply the home. Wastewater is also managed on-site.

Every bedroom and living space accesses northerly sun with the living spaces receiving all day sunlight. The master bedroom, office, hobby room, bath and all living spaces enjoy the rural valley vista.  Polished concrete floors combined with significant slab insulation provide excellent thermal mass. The practical performance of the floor is visually enhanced by the birch ply ceiling above. The bespoke kitchen continues the theme with solid and veneer timber.

Interiors:

The interior response to this narrative was for a home that sat comfortably in a rural environment, to be a warm environment both functionally & visually and have private outdoor living spaces that connected to the views and their complimentary indoor spaces. As owners of a local store a small home office was needed, and this was required to be near the living areas yet easily closed off when required.

A socially oriented kitchen was required with access to the outdoor spaces on both sides of the house. A large island was desired and to include the cooktop ready for the host to amaze the assembled guests. The en-suite was to be the primary bathroom focus for Mr & Mrs Cox with the main bathroom and WC playing a lesser role due to their intermittent use by visiting friends and family.

The interior environment of this home needed to reflect a richness and warmth with a nod to the owner’s Thai heritage. These influences are subtle from the fabric on the cushions, the splashes of blue, turquoise, and yellow to the more obvious such as the rich timber finishes. All three colours featuring in the James Dunlop – Juriti in Carnaval fabric featured on the roman blinds, lounge window seat cushions & bedroom cushions. Timber finishes feature strongly in both traditional and modern Thai architecture and in this home the application was in the kitchen cabinetry and the pitch ceilings to the living areas.

The kitchen design in addition to featuring the rich oak had to achieve a relaxed, country feel to reflect the locale the home resides in. Resilient benches illuminated floating timber shelves and geometric tile splash compliment the look along with the custom design extract fan over the hob. The theme is continued into the walk-in pantry. The floor to the entry/kitchen/dining area is polished concrete, great for the freedom of being able to move between the indoor and outdoor spaces without fear of damaging the surface. An essential element of a rural home! The bedrooms and bathrooms have a simpler neutral palette with the focus on outwards towards the views and the light. The bath in the master en-suite is positioned to provide a private view out to the valley and distant hills.

Louis Poulsen PH5 pendants and ECC LED lighting illuminate and highlight the forms, finishes and spaces.