Light touch

A designer's imaginative flair and professional experience come to the fore when a client brief presents constraining elements that require a think-outside-the-square solution.

This residence, by ICR Consulting, is the result of the owner's request for a light-filled, multi-roomed family home. The site was modest in scale and heritage planning regulations meant further restrictions on the design, says director Phil Shaw.

"We designed a traditional facade in keeping with surrounding homes to address the planning regulations, but to achieve maximum family space we gave the interior of the residence an open-plan and contemporary style," says Shaw.

An expansive kitchen and living area with large outdoor entertainment areas was critical to the design. However, with space at a premium, every nook and cranny has been utilised.

"A feature of this project is a vertical void stretching from the living space up through the home's upper level to the sunlight," says Shaw. "A small pedestrian bridge across the void connects the master bedroom to the main bedroom area.

"This double-height void is a key element of the design it floods the lower living areas with natural light and makes them feel more spacious due to the visual openness it creates."

Materials used on the exterior are timber and corrugated steel, with timber joinery natural choices given the heritage zoning. Inside, timber laminate provides child-proof flooring in the living areas, while plasterboard walls are painted white to increase the sense of space.

ICR Consulting offers architectural consulting services in a variety of design fields, including industrial, commercial and residential.

For further information on ICR Consulting, phone (09) 379 8647. Email: phil@icr.co.nz, or visit the website: www.icr.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas