Combining super-functional spaces with the elegance of white on white, this striking Merivale family home by Coll Architecture has scooped up a well-deserved award.

WORDS Anna scaife PHOTOGRAPHY Stephen Goodenough

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Designed as a large family home in a leafy, established suburb of Christchurch, this innovative and striking new build showcases the use of form and texture to give the crisp, white house presence. Designed by architect Mitchell Coll of Coll Architecture, the form borrows from the traditional and the very modern, ensuring it complements the neighbouring villas while also making a statement.

Mitchell says it was a pleasure to be involved in the project, “I enjoyed it because I was working with cool people. The homeowners and the builder, Pat, are all just really nice people, and the process is that much better for it.”

Pat Coughlan, director of Coughlan Construction, joined the project early on and says, “The most rewarding thing was being able to be part of it from the very start. Helping the owners through the complete journey meant we were able to provide a more client-focused home that meets their needs now and into the future. We started working with the owners as soon as they purchased the section, so we were able to help through the initial phase of the planning and help create value.”

SUPERIOR FINISH The smooth exterior walls by Wasp Plastering were finished in Resene Rockcote. — **SUPERIOR FINISH** The smooth exterior walls by Wasp Plastering were finished in Resene Rockcote.

The homeowners, a couple with three teenagers, wanted to balance the needs of privacy and space with creating welcoming communal areas to share. The over 300 square metre floorplan includes a separate lounge for the teens to socialise, as well as the spacious open plan living and dining, plus a second formal lounge.

The design features an exclusively white exterior – including the roof – intended to reflect the light throughout the day and as the seasons change. As the sun drifts across the building, the moving shadows alter the overall appearance of the building, while the white surfaces reflect the colours in the sky.

Departing from the norms of the homes in the surrounding streets, the welcoming frontage has no front fence and features abundant planting to add greenery and space to the neighbourhood over time. The garage has a side entry to reduce the dominance of the garage door, and the entrance to the home is set back to add privacy and formality for guests.

The generous interior spaces boast double-height ceilings and are filled with light and shadow cast by the louvred windows. The functionality of the spacious designer kitchen was a critical part of the brief; it needed to be large enough for use by multiple people at once and have several access points plus an easy flow to the outdoor kitchen and barbecue area.

The homeowners love the finished home, and Mitchell was delighted to receive the prize for Residential New Home over 300 square metres Regional Winner at the 2020 ADNZ awards for his work. Coll Architecture is a small design practice offering a personalised service for people looking to build their dream home. They specialise in complex builds that require a thought-through design solution for the clients and the site. After working on over 1,100 projects of various sizes and complexities throughout the South Island, Mitchell brings substantial experience to the table.

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Coll Architecture was recommended to the client by both the builder and friends of theirs and Mitchell says this is often the way he comes to work with new clients. He says, “Often it’s a recommendation, and sometimes they hear about us from multiple sources, like in this case, and we love that.”

NATURAL TEXTURES Throughout the home the shades of white are warmed up with stone textured tiles, and light wooden cabinetry. — **NATURAL TEXTURES** Throughout the home the shades of white are warmed up with stone textured tiles, and light wooden cabinetry.

The partnership to deliver this elegant house alongside Coughlan Construction was a roaring success, demonstrating the expertise of the entire build team. Pat and wife Vanessa started Coughlan Construction in 2004 after Pat had already spent many years in construction, and the team are proud to bring a family approach to working with clients and delivering on their dreams.

Pat says, “This project reinforced the importance of creating a partnership approach to everyone involved in creating such a beautiful home. It not only looks good but functions for our clients and helps them as much as possible to make life more enjoyable through their lived environment. We helped to bring the project together using sound project management systems and making sure there was still the personal touch so that there is a strong ethos around building a total living solution.”

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION The garage makes a great first impression thanks to the work of Custom Made Garage Doors. — **SEAMLESS INTEGRATION** The garage makes a great first impression thanks to the work of Custom Made Garage Doors.

Mitchell says he was grateful that his clients were happy to trust him to make some bolder choices to create something for them that was out of the ordinary. The white palette (especially the roof) prompted discussion, but ultimately the couple took Mitchell’s advice and took the road less travelled, resulting in a quietly rebellious home that suits the family down to the ground.