Working With Contrasts Textures And Light

The client’s brief was to create a multi-levelled home which included the use of bleached cedar, exposed masonry and modernist cube forms.

The home was to accommodate 3 bedrooms, providing privacy an ensuite and generous storage options for the master bedroom. An open plan kitchen/dinning and family living room, a generous walk in pantry/scullery and a separate lounge that could be utilised as an office space. Garaging with internal access and a workshop. To achieve this the client had an all up budget of $500,000 which was met.

The site slopes to the rear with a level front however the front area was un-compacted fill up to 8 meters in depth. To avoid costly foundations the site was excavated into the original, existing slope providing a building platform and the option to create to a courtyard in the central level.

The conceptual form was one of an extruded “black box” deliberately punching through a traditional gable. The “black box” has been cantilevered to project speed and define the shape. It is clad with vertical COLORSTEEL “Metalcraft MC760” to enable a low maintenance solution with strong, sharp lines and features black aluminium joinery.

In contrast the gable form is clad in Hermpac Cedar weatherboard with custom profiled corners, barges and fascias featuring silver aluminium joinery.

The block work foundation and garage retains the rear of the site and is sealed with Resene Multishield.

Sustainability features centre on energy efficiency with the house exceeding H1 by 40%. Thermal mass in the form of insulated precast concrete flooring is a key. The garage plus the middle section of the home have concrete floors and both use a 40mm Expol Thermaslab “S” grade insulated system. This, together with
the block foundation, provides a very efficient heat sink and enables the use of polished concrete to achieve one of the clients objectives in expressing the raw building components.

The key to the success of the design was the contrasts in textures. The philosophy used was to express the building components rather than simply apply decoration. These main components were the polished concrete floor with a salt and pepper grind, the stairs, built in oak shelves, oak and frosted glass office feature wall & door and the kitchen which used clear lacquered eucalyptus, Corian and stainless steel.

The lighting was carefully planned in ensuring the fixtures for each space, many of which were LED, had the right output for purpose, rather than an oversupply of light, thereby delivering an excellent, yet energy efficient result. Over 50 percent of the lighting utilises LED technology.

The client’s brief for the interior of this home was for a light and airy feel with texture and contrast. A cool grey/green based palette of Resene paints was used for the walls and ceilings to emphasise the light and airy feel and work in harmony with the external light transmitted through the green tinted windows.

The master suite top level features the strong lines of Hardigroove ceilings and a fully tiled en-suite with roof glazing. The existing bed was refurbished and painted to suit the new interior.

As part of the sustainability design materials have been sourced locally wherever possible and the interior timber has been sourced from sustainable plantations.

The main level stairs feature bead blasted steel which is clear coated for a natural finish, glass balustrade, stained oak treads and stainless steel handrail.

Window treatments were kept within the grey/green palette to compliment the built forms rather than dominate.

Tony Biesiek.
Imagine Building Design

Tony Biesiek has been involved in the building industry for over 20 years, the last 11 owning his own design practice. He is a Professional Member of ADNZ and currently a Director on the ADNZ National Executive. Imagine Building Design is based in a purpose designed, home studio, and currently employs two full time technicians, one who has been with the firm since 2004.

Imagine Building Design is an award winning architectural firm that has specialist expertise in Residential and Commercial design as well as high quality 3D Rendering and Animation. With over 450 commissions to date firm’s experience is wide and diverse with projects undertaken locally in Taranaki, throughout New Zealand and Australia.