The client wanted a design for affordable, contemporary townhouses that meet spatial needs, with contrasting elements and which made ideal use of the challenging site and its environment. 

Situated in Ngaio, the townhouses oriented towards the North not only capture the views over Ngaio Valley, but enable maximum solar gain. Large glazed panels enable the living spaces to be opened onto the decks allowing desirable indoor-outdoor flow between built and natural elements. 

The shifting heights of the townhouses complement the uneven landscape at Cockayne Rd. The formation appears to be nested in the site, although the materials and colour scheme with crisp horizontal emphasis [weatherboards, garage doors and light-coloured spouting] and vertical emphasis [dark-coloured Shadowclad, entry doors, boxed corners and colorsteel roofing] contrast the surroundings. The site itself was a challenge for the terraced design of the townhouses. Retaining wall of over 4m high had to be engineered to support the land. 

Internally, the horizontal/vertical aspect is manifested. The levels are split up according to their public or private use. The open living space is the heart, with the smaller areas dispersing from it above and below. Within the open-plan layout, contrasting materials differentiate between spaces. A neutral colour foundation accentuated with warm colours makes these contemporary townhouses aesthetically and functionally agreeable.