Commanding presence

A house designed for entertaining on a grand scale can also provide for intimate family living the two are not mutually exclusive, as this project illustrates. At 1500m², Sapphire Ridge in Whitford is large by anyone's standards. But the provision of several private living spaces ensures it functions as a comfortable family home.

The home's architectural designer, Mark Brown of Solutions Architecture, says the owners needed a house that would have separate living areas for themselves and their adult son. The house also needed to be suitable for entertaining, and for hosting small, high-end corporate conferences.

"It was important that the design would not date it had to look just as appealing in 20 years," Brown says. "The owners felt a highly contemporary design would not suit the country setting."

Brown says he was also aware of the need for the house to have a commanding presence, as the property sits on a ridge with 360° views.

Consequently, the house has a symmetrical front facade with two gabled wings positioned either side of the main axis.

"This central line continues the formality established by the circular driveway," says Brown. "It extends from the central front door, through a great hall to a conservatory, and out to a pool and tennis court on the northern side. These central areas cater to the formal entertainment requirements. Living quarters for the parents and son are in two wings. Each of these wings has its own front entrance, but is also connected to the formal areas, so there is an easy flow between rooms."

The house incorporates a home theatre with tiered seating, a 250m² art gallery on the first floor, a library and a basement wine cellar, which can be seen through a glass floor. For ease of entertaining there is a separate caterer's kitchen, and a formal dining room with a table that can seat twenty.

Both the formal and informal areas flow out to large terraces at ground level, and large balconies on the first floor. The upper decks feature greenheart, which came from the first shipment of this sustainable hardwood to New Zealand.

"Sustainable design was a key driver," says Brown. "For energy efficiency we have installed solar-powered water heating and a higher level of insulation than required by the building code."

For details, contact Solutions Architecture, PO Box 51-925, Pakuranga, phone (09) 576 7472, fax (09) 576 5962. Email: solutionsarchitecture@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.solutionsarchitecture.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas