By Dravitzki Brown Architecture
Located in the small seaside settlement of Kakanui, near Oamaru, the design challenge required a concept that would make the most of the beautiful sea views and sunlight, while balancing the need for privacy from neighbouring properties and the street. The challenge also included working to a small footprint, while maximising the comfort of interior living spaces.
The Whittaker Cube was designed as two levels of just 8 metres x 8 meters with immaculate detailing of durable materials and a cost-effective structure. Despite the compact footprint, the design incorporates three bedrooms, while upper-level living achieves a light and spacious feel with American Oak featuring throughout the modern interior.
Cedar cladding provides an effective rain screen and allows flashings to be cleverly concealed, while also lending the exterior a simple uncluttered look.
Designs that incorporate our clients ideas, and then exceed their expectations. Alister and Katrina believe listening is the key.
“Great buildings are the result of a great team. The builder, the client and the architect all play a vital role.”
Dravitzki & Brown are a husband and wife duo committed to designing beautiful buildings with functional spaces that enhance people’s lives. They give their clients a professional service with a down to earth approach. Based in Queenstown since 2008 they understand the design challenges created by its harsh climate. Although mostly designing locally around Queenstown and Wanaka they have designed a number of projects in different parts of New Zealand, including Greytown, New Plymouth, Dunedin, Oamaru.
Their strength lies in their ability to design buildings which have a consistent design language, both in the overall form and the way materials are used. Their extensive knowledge in complex detailing brings these designs to life, whilst their photo-realistic renderings ensure clients can see and understand the vision well before construction starts.
Alister and Katrina are experts in designing all aspects of complex spaces; juggling proportion, size, scale, sun, views, clients brief and budgets altogether which form the basis of all designs
Both Alister & Katrina are current architecture graduate members of the NZIA, New Zealand Institute of Architects.