Johnston Architects and DJ Hewitt Builders made the complex simple when it came to this sleek and streamlined home in Christchurch.

WORDS Cassie Doherty PHOTOGRAPHY Jamie Cobel

Looks can be deceiving, says Daryl Hewitt of DJ Hewitt Builders of this new home in Cashmere Hills, Ōtautahi Christchurch. “Yes, the house has clean lines and seems nice and simple. But to achieve that end result required a lot of forethought and skill from our team of craftspeople.”

It’s the extensive glazing that lends the house its airy, minimalist aesthetic. It’s elegant and contemporary, the horizontal roofline seemingly afloat.

“It’s mostly glass; that’s your main material, really,” jokes Daryl. “There are massive glass panels and sliding doors, some of them three metres tall.”

Despite the need for eight people to lift some of those panels into place, the effort was well worth it. An open- plan layout surrounded by three walls of glass seamlessly connects the home to the surroundings and offers wide views of Christchurch. “It’s quite ingenious,” says Daryl.

The homeowners share that sentiment. “It absolutely needed a very experienced architect to make it what it is,” they say. To them, it could only be Regan Johnston, director of Johnston Architects.

It was while they were still searching for a site that they came across Regan’s previous work, and loved it. Regan says there are huge advantages to being involved from the very start of the journey. “It’s great to be able to assist with site selection so we can help clients see the potential. Each project is a unique response to the site, so when the home is completed, it feels as though it was always meant to be there,” he says.

In some aspects, the brief from the homeowners was very specific. They wanted a home that blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor living, to enhance the sense of space and capture the broad outlook. But the outdoor living had to be sheltered, so they could access it no matter the weather.

The focus was on entertaining, and the kitchen was to be the hub of the home. A separate living room for the family was to be more introspective and relaxed, and tucked well away to provide more privacy.

Otherwise, they were very happy for Regan to have free rein. “We didn’t really know what to expect, but the first design he presented was spot on.”

The brief from the homeowners was for the kitchen to be the hub of the home. Large sliding doors equipped with glazed balustrades create a Juliet balcony within the open-plan volume, and the kitchen installation and other joinery was by Sydenham Joinery.

The extensive glazing allows lots of light into the interior, requiring soft, sophisticated materials such as the plasterwork by Shaun Hendry Plastering

It was Johnston Architects that introduced Daryl of DJ Hewitt Builders to the homeowners, as they had worked together previously.

Daryl says it was an easy collaboration with Regan and the homeowners. “The clients were pretty hands-on with a lot of the decision-making and we all worked well with Johnston Architects. There are always challenges, even on a new build, and we’d come up with ideas. We’re quite solution-focused for clients because we know building can be challenging and we try to take as much stress out of it as possible.”

The homeowners appreciated that the clear communication between Regan and Daryl meant everyone was on the same page.

“Daryl had such attention to detail; he was always accessible and approachable, and he ensured a quality delivery by his team. He would often present cost-saving ideas as well, which we were really grateful for.”

The resulting home is sophisticated and restrained, presenting a low facade to the street that is grounded by the two large chimney elements. It is serene, unobtrusive, and harmonious. The materials inside and out are low-maintenance and have a calm, neutral palette that doesn’t detract from the views outside.

The main living area is U-shaped, designed around a sheltered courtyard, and there are three private bedrooms with ensuites.

It’s a testament to great design and high-end construction that the homeowners say the house has improved their quality of life.

“It has given us space to breathe. We all have our favourite spaces, and it’s brought us even closer together. There’s a mindfulness when you’ve got a canvas that’s changing all the time, and you can’t help but stop and be drawn in.”

Daryl says his whole team is very proud of the finished home. “We’re quite passionate about what we do, and for me, at the end of the day, it’s all about making sure the client is happy.”

And they are: “It has well and truly exceeded expectations. It is glorious to be in.”