Menu

Feature Articles

Primary tabs

Aztech: Building a Rural Goat Farm That Helps Increase Production

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 3:29pm

With 35 years of experience of farming goats, Frans Janssen knows how important it is for good milk production to keep the animals comfortable and healthy.

So when he wanted to expand his Waikato goat farming operation, Elite Goat Milk, at Manawaru, just south of Te Aroha, he set his...

Curves in Invercargill

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 3:25pm

It was to be a project without limits. Very early on, architectural designer Nathan Shearing knew his biggest challenge would be not “taming” his clients’ bold wishes of their vision for a new home.

From the get-go, owners Andrew and Linda Gunn wanted something different and produced an...

Apartments in a Rural Setting. Mike Greer Homes show the way

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 3:19pm

A ‘satellite’ residential area designated a Special Housing Area (SHA) under the government’s Housing Accord is in the wine country village of Huapai, West Auckland where Mike Greer Homes has recently completed an apartment complex in Dida Drive.

Located in the Huapai Triangle which will...

Tocker House: A Simple Lifestyle in a Complex World.

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 3:04pm

The “Olde Beach” area of Waikanae is a tightly held group of baches and permanent homes located in a microclimate created by Kapiti Island, an hour north of Wellington. There is a French bakery, a couple of convenience stores, three excellent restaurants and a great beach. It is a very desirable...

The Sunderland Hangar re-born at Hobsonville

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 2:59pm

When a Project Unite crew first walked onto the Catalina Bay hangar site at Hobsonville last year what greeted them was a structural skeleton, only the bones remaining of the historical RNZAF facility which had been home to the air force’s Sunderland seaplanes. 

The building, which had...

Set in a rural paradise: Kowhai House maximises its unique setting

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 2:55pm

It sits on the crest of a hill, overlooking valleys with Mount Taranaki and the Kaitake Ranges in a direct line of sight and the Tasman Sea in the distance: Kowhai House, with its views in all directions, maximises the experience of the green hues of this undulating rural Taranaki site. 

...

Freemans Bay School. Modern Learning.

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 2:36pm

When Freeman’s Bay school in Auckland needed redevelopment done, RTA Studio stepped in to design a building that proposes a solution type of architecture that inspires learning and promotes the fulfilment of potential in the local rangatahi (younger generation / youth).

The redevelopment...

Timeless Double Gable Home in Wanaka

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Wed, 20/11/2019 - 2:32pm

Having already developed a home in Wanaka’s Bull Ridge subdivision, builder Nathan Simon had firm ideas about the sort of house he wanted to construct on a neighbouring section. 

“We had developed and lived in the house next door on the street, so buying the neighbouring section allowed...

Gerard Corona roofing: Love At First Sight

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Fri, 21/06/2019 - 1:28pm

As Auckland couple Allen and Marilyn Welch approached retirement, their daughter and son-in-law suggested that they look at the possibility of designing and building a single house, enabling them to live together under one roof, and provide care in the future. Thanks to an enviable rural...

A Series of Pavilions Reflect the Owner's Love of Angles and Relaxing Nooks

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Fri, 21/06/2019 - 1:19pm

When Gerald and Lorraine McCormack briefed their architect, it was to have the scale of their expansive 300m2 home broken up with several mono-pitched pavilions – each one providing outdoor entertainment spaces.

This was to be their forever home, so retired farmers Gerald and Lorraine...

Metalcraft’s New Hamilton Facility

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Fri, 21/06/2019 - 1:09pm

Metalcraft Hamilton needed a bigger factory to deal with increased demand and provide them with an increased ability to produce longrun cladding, including Metalcraft’s new Kāhu® and Metcom 965 profiles.

“We grew to the point where we could not manufacture and store stock safely,” says...

Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Fri, 21/06/2019 - 12:36pm


 
For architect Charles Thomas, designing the Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church was a dream commission. 

He had started up his own practice in 1960 and then in 1965 he was approached by a member of the parish who said they wanted to build a church to replace the old one in...

Wyuna Bay House 

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Fri, 21/06/2019 - 12:14pm

Having grown up spending his summers holidaying on the Coromandel Peninsula, Daniel Smith had been on the lookout in the area for a section to build on for a while.  When his father spotted sections for sale in a subdivision at Wyuna Bay, Daniel and his wife Daisy took a closer look.  

...

Restoring New Zealand History

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Fri, 21/06/2019 - 11:48am

A worldwide search for a B&B where they could enjoy semi-retirement brought James Glucksman and James Boussy to Oamaru. 

During their search, the couple realised that they would be more suited to running a high-end lodge and they found that in the historic home 
Pen-y-bryn. James...

Speldhurst Country Estate: A New Era for Levin

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 3:14pm

With $150m of planned development including 400 new standalone homes and a community centre, Levin’s new ‘Speldhurst Country Estate’ promises to be much more than a retirement village.

Developer and prominent local Wayne Bishop is not only passionate about providing the best possible...

A small community can achieve big things

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 3:00pm

The Gore Playcentre was at a crossroads back in 2014: it was outgrowing its current building and must find the funds to meet an increase in lease or find a new home. The Gore Toy Library and Parents Centre were facing similar issues with unsustainable lease arrangements. 

This predicament...

Metrotile CF Slate Provides a New Solution for an Old Problem

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 3:04pm

Even before the Christchurch earthquakes Paul Ward and his family were having issues with their house, namely a leaky roof. He and his wife, who had design input, had built the house 18 years ago and used an asphalt shingle product imported from Canada for the roofing.  
“We had issues with...

A New Home from the Ashes

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 3:08pm

When a friend planned to rebuild his fire-damaged home Wellington Architect David Pawson stepped in to help out with help from Tony Hodson from EBUILD who were the Builders and Project Managers.

With the collaboration between Architect, owner and a Quantity Surveyor a decision was reached...

A Shared Interest in Green, Sustainable Homes

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 3:19pm

Architectural designer Sally Turnbull began her working life as a medical technologist but a stint as a builder’s labourer while building her first home gave her a taste for architecture.  She went on to study architectural technology and started her own company Architectural Draughting &...

(item needs a title)

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 2:53pm

...

Privacy by design

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 31/01/2019 - 2:21pm

Kiwis are renowned for enjoying outdoor living in their backyards, shielded from the streets and its associated passersby and traffic. So, when clients wanted to use their north-facing front yard, which faced on to a cul de sac, for entertaining, it provided some challenges for Solutions...

Higham Architecture

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 30/08/2018 - 10:52am

When a 1600m2 site in West Melton was purchased the owners were looking to build their “forever” home - something that would capture the magnificence of the rural vista to the mountains in contrast to their hectic urban lifestyle. This became the challenge for Rangiora architectural designer,...

Green Star, Homestar and metal roofing.

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 30/08/2018 - 10:06am

NZMRM and NZ Steel are members of the NZ Green Building Council 

We have previously discussed the long process of having metal roofing recognised by NZGBC as eligible for credit under the MAT-8 rating in the Green Star accreditation system which recognises the sustainability of products...

Arcline Architecture: Inspired Boatshed

Submitted by Bruce Duncan on Thu, 30/08/2018 - 10:40am


Taking his inspiration from Waiheke Island’s boutique hotel The Boatshed, Uwe Weiland had a firm concept plan for his new home in Russell. It was important to Uwe that the house be sympathetic to the colonial character of the seaside town, and the boatshed aesthetic was fitting considering...

Pages