Best Of Both Worlds

When owners Lyn McLean and Melanie Wakeman made the decision to build their dream it encompassed much more than a home. Their plans included provisions for the future from planting an avocado orchard to wiring the entire house and entry with surveillance cameras, broadband and sound systems. There is provision for a future lift and remote controlled lighting on the interior and exterior...and more.

Lyn and Melanie’s exploration into building options began by meeting with several architects and designers before they engaged Andre Laurent from Creative Space Architectural Solutions. “We had done  considerable work on the design of our proposed new home,” says Melanie, “and Andre’s approach impressed us from the outset. He had an intuitive understanding of our plans, needs and direction and we both felt he was someone we could work alongside to achieve our goals.”

The property is quite unique and covers 2.4 hectares of undulating pasture and has extensive views of both countryside and the Mt Maunganui coastline. There is an existing Californian style barn on the property that was converted into a 2 bedroom dwelling where the owners lived during the building process. This has since been rented to provide a passive income.

The property has been divided into 4 paddocks with extensive shelter belts offering protection to the donkeys, sheep and pigs on the site. To provide for future income an orchard has been planted with around 50 avocado trees and 50 citrus trees.

The building site slopes gently to the North and the home designed, on three levels, to capture the maximum in sun and views. Part of the brief was to include a B & B as a future business opportunity. This occupies the lower level and is completely self contained offering privacy to the occupants and the main household.

Melanie has a strong leaning towards design and had some very specific features designed into the home. On the interior a separate living space with a bar/kitchen for entertaining which is completely apart from the main kitchen to avoid noise and utilities becoming a distraction. A room set aside for TV viewing away from the main lounge area, an isolated office, plenty of storage and a generous garage with space to move around without feeling restricted. As breeders of Havanese dogs the home and surroundings also has some unique design features to accommodate and control the canine members of the family.

On the exterior the building layout had to provide for privacy from every aspect including the decks and outdoor patios to each level. Particular attention was given to the shelter provided by the eaves that are 1000 to 1200 mm and specially engineered and all feature V-groove linings.

Andre Laurent acknowledges that the owners had done considerable work in designing the various components and requirements.

Their brief was well thought out and detailed. Our role was to add value to the concept and make the various features work in both design and structure.

“At the time of designing and planning, and today’, says Andre, “this home is well ahead of its time. It was one of the first homes in New Zealand to utilise an excavated tube solar water heating system from Switzerland. The home has many design features such as gas and log fire options, decks that are free draining to the exterior to eliminate weather tightness issues, generous eaves, sunshield louvred roof, Schist columns and fireplace and custom balustrades.”

Lyn and Melanie also wanted to be sure the design would be “future proof” in terms of technology. While many of the options are not utilised the entire home is wired for sound systems and broadband access to every room. Even the driveway to the gate has been wired to accommodate surveillance cameras in the future.

As part of the future design plan a lift cavity has been incorporated making installation in the future a simple and cost effective process.

Particular attention was given to the lighting allowing many alternatives to the exterior lights from the drive to the home in both intensity and colour.

The home takes full advantage of the location and the views with large glazed areas and folding doors that
open onto outdoor living areas. The the main outdoor entertainment area features gas fired heating and
a sunshield roof which effectively makes it an extension of the lounge and provides a superb dinning
option.

While a Bed and Breakfast was the original intention in the design of the lower level this has never been
used and would be ideally suited, if circumstances change, to a granny flat or to accommodate extended
family members.

The home is 346 square meters and the overall concept has been to simplify daily living, enjoy the environment and be as maintenance free as possible. The roofing chosen for this purpose was Steel & Tube’s Plumbdek® in ZINCALUME® and the cladding in COLORSTEEL® EnduraTM with accents of linea board and stone in natural colours to blend with the environment.

From both the design and living aspect this home has proven to be a pleasure to live in: Cool in summer, warm in winter, light, bright and makes the most of the site, technology available and the views.

Creative Space

Our mission at Creative Space Architectural Design Ltd is to provide fresh and innovative architecture that complements the way you live, function and work. We believe that every site and lifestyle is different and this requires unique and individual ideas to fully unlock the potential that suits our clients.

We know that successful architecture creates function, value and equity and because of this we strive to achieve the perfect solution every time.

Our in-house building and project management experience is an essential factor in ensuring that our design is practical and achievable. We have designed, specified and built/project-managed many homes
with excellent results.