The Gatekeeper
By Charissa Snijders Architect
Heather and Charissa sought to acknowledge the special qualities of the land and its relationship to the dwelling. The above Maori proverb helped to express these qualities and became the guide that inspired them to connect, weave and shape the home with the land. Also inspired by the analogy of a Maori pa on the hill, the design adopts a collection of small buildings, each with its own use and held together by the natural and man-made terracing. Comfortably nestling into the hill the buildings quietly survey the surrounding landscape and stunning sea views.
The overall feel of the place is timeless and understated, creating a sense of permanence through the careful selection of materials, colour and proportions. Local stone, concrete floors and timbers weave seamlessly together. Working with timbers close to home, Lawson Cypress was selected for the exposed structural elements, as was Tasmanian Oak for the interior doors, skirtings and handrails, combined with hoop pine ply for the walls. The walls were contrasted with Meranti ply for the lower ceilings and washed T&G ply for the raked ceilings. To enhance the natural timbers, The Natural House ‘Osmo Polyx Hardwax’ was applied to walls, ceilings and doors.
When entering this home, one feels immediately relaxed and inspired. A welcoming and uplifting place, this home stands proudly as gatekeeper to a very special slice of Waiheke Island.
Photography by Peter Rees Photography.
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The Gatekeeper
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The Gatekeeper
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About the
Professional
Weaving the story of people and place through award winning design, Charissa works with you to create architecture that is life-affirming, resilient and beautiful.
Working co-creatively with you, the design is innovative and personalised to meet your unique needs. The process is an enriching experience, one that inspires authentic living.
Charissa Snijders Architect works on everything from the overall design idea to the smallest details. Interiors, exteriors, materials, colour, lighting, landscaping, and creative landmarks. To make sure every design is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative, Charissa works with Regenerative Practitioner frameworks and The Living Building Challenge (LBC) - a high level green building certification programme.
CHARISSA SNIJDERS
Charissa Snijders is an award-winning Architect who has been working in the field since 1992. She combines vision, artistry, experience, and her skills as an empath to create places of beauty and resonance that restore harmony between people and place. Her integrative approach bridges indigenous wisdom with ground-breaking science.
Charissa’s approach is co-creative; with her client as an integral partner on the team at every stage of the design and building process. Charissa oversees the delivery and documentation of the concept design with the support and expertise of her team. She coordinates and delivers an inspired outcome that is not preconceived, rather a combination of the client’s unique requirements, the story of the land and the budget. The aim is to achieve an outcome beyond the client’s expectations. For Charissa, a successful project inspires authentic living; bringing greater meaning to all those who experience it.