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At one with the land
At one with the land from Outdoor Living & Holiday Home Trends volume 2303
Getting close to nature is what summer holidays are all about – it's the reason for camping out under the stars or tramping through native bush to sleep in primitive log cabins.
That connection with the natural environment is what helps us unwind and relax. And it's a concept that is influencing the design of many modern holiday homes.
For his own family holiday house, architectural designer Gary Todd took his cue from the local landscape – the majestic mountains, lakes and rivers of the Southern Alps.
"The design also needed to take into account the climate extremes, and the small, steep site, which was subjected to building restrictions," he says.
"The solution was to create a collection of three pavilion forms, each using different materials to scale the building to its rural location."
The pavilions are terraced over three levels, and linked by a central, two-storey void with a stairwell and lift.
"The design concept was based on the idea of the house rising from the river bed," says Todd. "Natural colours from the landscape have been reinterpreted and combined with harmonious, low-maintenance, modern materials and colours to create a point of difference."
A single-storey, honed-block box provides the formal frontage to the house. Angular Zincalume and plaster forms are transitional elements that link this box to a less formal, two-storey glazed pavilion with a floating roof. Honed concrete-block walls extend through to the interior where they form a feature fireplace and stairwell spine.
"These walls appear to both rise from the gravel and also help anchor the house to the land," says Todd. "The Rockcote plaster walls were designed as angled outcrops, with graduated shades of gravel providing a modern interpretation of river sediment layers and rock stratification. This was a way to further meld the building into the landscape."
In addition, the aluminium joinery, the vertical Zincalume on the walls, and the honed block chimney all provide a verticality that mimics the tall trees bordering the property.
Todd also introduced reflective Evergreen tinted glass to highlight the lush environment, and to create light, airy spaces by day, and warm, inviting rooms at night. At this time, the windows reflect the vibrant red walls in key areas.
"A bright pohutukawa red colour threads its way through the house from the front door up to the mezzanine level and bedrooms," says Todd. "It provides colour continuity and is a vibrant contrast to the gravel- grey tones."
Todd created a transparency within the house, to provide views in different directions. As well as floor-to-ceiling glazing in the double-height void, there is a glazed balcony on the mezzanine level.
"Both the mezzanine void and the stairwell were designed to capture views of the lagoon, trees and mountains from both floors," Todd says.
"The house is designed so the views open up as you walk through the interior. You don't get to see everything at once, which makes it a lot more exciting visually."
To counter the region's temperature extremes, the windows are double glazed. The house is also designed to gain maximum solar energy in winter, with the tiled concrete floor and thermal mass of the concrete block helping to retain the sun's heat.
In summer, triple stacking sliding doors provide a large, 5m opening to the outdoor courtyard. Here, aluminium louvres create an innovative fence, which is a barrier that can be used to control sunlight, breezes and privacy.
To offer flexible living options, two sliding walls divide both the upper and lower living areas. These can be opened during hot summers when more airflow is required, and closed off to heat the house more efficiently in winter. In addition, the roof window, blinds and heating are automated to help keep the house comfortable all year round.
The home's automation system extends to the lighting, security and audiovisual equipment, ensuring the house is fully equipped to meet the needs of a modern family.
Designed as a series of connected pavilions, this rural holiday home overlooks a lagoon and also has views to nearby mountains. Expansive glazing is designed to frame these views in several directions.
A courtyard on the sunny side of the house is fenced with aluminium louvres. These can be opened or closed depending on the weather and the need for privacy.
Plaster walls are painted in graduating shades of gravel, reminiscent of local rock stratification and river sediment layers. The aggregate paving is also a reference to the region's river beds and tumbling creeks. Designed by Gary Todd, the house recently won Otago-Southland branch awards in the Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) awards. It also received awards in several categories at the national ADNZ awards.
Textured materials are not only a feature of the exterior – the interior was also designed to reinforce the concept of a house rising from the river bed. Gravel colours are off-set by bright pohutukawa red walls and accessories. The cantilevered hearth and concrete-block wall also help link the house to the land.
Red cabinetry gives the kitchen a warm, inviting ambience. The black benchtops add a touch of drama.
Resene Pohutukawa Red is a colour accent that appears throughout the house.
Windows throughout the house are positioned to capture views from different angles, including the tree canopy, which can be seen from the mezzanine living area.
Both skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows allow plenty of natural light to flood the mezzanine level.
The mezzanine opens to the master bedroom suite.
The master bedroom and ensuite bathroom repeat the colour theme established in the ground floor and mezzanine living areas.
The mirrored wall and cantilevered vanity unit enhance a sense of space.
Credit List
Architectural designer
:
Gary Todd ADNZ, Gary Todd Design (Dunedin)
Cladding
:
Firth masonry; Rockcote plaster system
Roof
:
Zincalume and butynol
Louvre system
:
Breezeway
Carpet
:
Feltex Laguna from Carpet Court
Floor and wall tiles in living areas and bathrooms
:
Ceramic from Tile Centre
Audiovisual
:
Sanyo, Sharp and Energy products from Strawberry Sound
Benchtops
:
Stonex Voodoo from O'Briens and Interion
Kitchen and bathroom tapware and shower fittings
:
Methven Minimalist
Oven, hob, rangehood, refrigerator and dishwasher
:
Fisher & Paykel
Basin
:
Robertson Agencies
Photography by Doc Ross
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