Underneath the arches

Designed by Design Builders Waikato

From the group home builder:

Design Builders Waikato takes a stylish and imaginative approach to creating one-off originals – and this home is no exception. 

The home's clean exterior is enhanced by vertical and horizontal painted cladding. 

The spacious interior features timber that combines textures to strong visual effect. 

An arch motif is used throughout, including in the home's feature windows.

Design Builders Waikato regional owner Jeff Marra:

“We're proud of this home for a couple of reasons. 

"Firstly, just how site-specific it is – it sits well on its site and is ideally designed for that location; the entranceway works really well and the outlook from upstairs is another high point. 

"And secondly is the style of the home – we like to think that we've put a few individual features," says Marra.

"It's got a Mediterranean feel with arches, lots of white battens and the plaster finish."

How the design fulfilled the owner’s brief

• Simple but impactful
• Soften interiors with archways and natural tones and materials.
• Living areas well connected but also each their own space.

• A uniformed link to the arch motif introduced throughout.
• Good use of floor space – including utilising the bank and retaining the wine cellar.
• The homeowner didn’t want the garage door to be a focus point from the street – the way the house has been angled on the site makes the entry way the main design focus.

How the design was developed in response to its setting

• The natural terrain of the site lent towards a basement design, having the first floor create commanding impact above.
• This response to the site also gave way to ideas such as the underground wine cellar – this is how this feature was conceived.
• A strong, simple gable provided the main axis of the plan and this simple form was orientated and stretched to the extents of the site.
• Timber slatting provides privacy and a filtered play of light to the spaces within.
• Challenges – retaining and extensive engineering, due to the site and plan.

Designed by: Design Builders Waikato

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Amanda Aitken