Winning formula

Take one magical beachfront site, add good design and quality construction and you have a recipe for success. For the team involved in the design and construction of this house, it was a formula that resulted in the property winning the Master Builder House of the Year award.

Designed by Don Nelson & Associates and built by Registered Master Builder Gary Bonham, the house has a distinctiveMediterranean look thanks to the free-flowing curves, wide loggias and substantial facade. But the house also has a New Zealand twist. Pohutukawa trees frame the building, and the Hauraki Gulf provides an idyllic backdrop. It was designed with New Zealand's relaxed, family-oriented lifestyle in mind, says Don Nelson.

"Creating a good indoor-outdoor flow was important," he says. "At the same time, however, the owners wanted the house to make a strong statement, hence the bold architectural lines. These are accentuated by lighting, water features, and landscaping."

To further enhance a sense of drama, large automatic gates are programmed to activate a gas flare upon opening. The flare, on top of a large column supporting a porte cochére, provides a visual focal point and a sense of welcome.

Contrasting materials and textures further enhance the grandeur of the house. These include a two-storey-high schist wall near the front door the natural texture providing relief to the home's solid, smooth-pasted facade. Water trickles down the face of this wall into a shallow pond, the light above it bouncing off the wall to create a glistening sheen.

Large timber doors open to reveal a double-height foyer. This is flooded with natural light, thanks to a large, circular skylight. Marble floor tiles, wave-shaped walls, a grand staircase and an elaborate chandelier complement the generous proportions of the foyer.

The curved staircase, which has wrought-iron balustrades, provides access to four bedrooms, each with its own ensuite. The upper floor includes the master bedroom and adjoining office, which open onto a large, tiled balcony overlooking the swimming pool and beach. An elevator provides the owners with secondary access upstairs.

To make the most of the home's setting, the kitchen and family room feature curved glass windows that provide views from all angles.

The main living areas flow onto patios and the swimming pool via bifold doors. Wide eaves, along with the pohutukawa trees, provide plenty of summer shade.

Don Nelson & Associates specialises in new home design and renovation projects.

For further information, contact Don Nelson & Associates, phone (09) 486 4698, fax (09) 489 6447, mobile 027 496 7450. Email: dn.arch.1@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.donnelsonarchitecture.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas