This eye-catching new residence, designed by Rohan Collett Architects, is the perfect marriage of beauty and function.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Lightforge Photography

The brief for this home centred around creating a high-performance house that reflected the clients’ love of modernist architecture. They wanted a calm and comfortable oasis away from the urban world while remaining intimately connected to the natural world. In a sense, they wanted a “defining but not confining” space that offered privacy, security and durability without compromising aesthetic appeal, natural light, a sense of spaciousness, and views towards the Port Hills and the Southern Alps.

Set in the context of a flat site in the desirable village of Tai Tapu, Canterbury, it was Rohan Collett Architects that answered the brief by designing a courtyard house with living areas arranged around a central outdoor space, providing a seamless connection. Functionally, this core space allows fresh air and natural light into the interior spaces while maintaining visual privacy, and experientially, it offers the desired balance between seclusion and openness – often difficult to achieve in an urban setting.

Deliberately orientated towards the northeast to take advantage of the corner site’s natural features and maximise solar gain in winter, the house is defined by an elegant, modern form. Softened by welcoming curves that flow towards a secluded entrance, and warmed by contrasting timber tones, the front face of the house extends to form a garden wall.

“Aesthetically, this gives the whole an elongated profile that gracefully stitches the home into the suburban fabric, and functionally, it creates an enclosed garden, delivering privacy from the road and protection from the blustery north-westerly wind,” says Rohan.

One of the most eye-catching aspects of the design is a roof deck, offering the advantage of elevated privacy and enjoyment of the greatest and most accessible view we’re gifted – the one above. Here, the homeowners can sunbathe by day and stargaze by night. Architecturally, the roof deck creates a point of interest and extends the curved entrance skyward, offering an element of verticality to the otherwise horizontally emphasised form. The homeowners very much enjoy the space: “We love to watch the sunsets, storms and stars from our amazing sundeck.”

Internally, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom house boasts elevated timber feature ceilings that extend to the outside eaves, continuing the rhythm and warmth of the Abodo-battened surface. A generous hall spine, which also operates as a gallery for the homeowners’ art, is punctuated with skylights to allow natural light to flood this central circulation space.

Long sight lines, careful sequencing of spaces and strategically located apertures contribute to the overall sense of spaciousness and reinforce the connection to the outdoors. The curves of the exterior are repeated inside – in the entrance foyer, the ensuite bathroom, and the kitchen joinery – offering a subtle sense of continuity and fluidity. “Curves reflect the natural forms of nature,” says Rohan. “Along with deliberate emphasis on natural materials and tones, light, ventilation and views, we introduced curves to reinforce the desired sense of connectivity with the natural world.”

In addition to the house, two studios for pottery and art-making were included in the design to allow the homeowners to pursue their creative passions in dedicated, purpose-built spaces. Light-filled and with garden views, these studios are accommodated in a separate structure adjacent to the main home, but they maintain a clear connection to the overall aesthetic by echoing the materials and form of the house.

Integral to the design are numerous high-performance features, including double-framed external walls, airtight construction, triple-glazing, solar panels, a mechanical heat recovery system, minimised thermal bridging and high levels of insulation. Two blower door tests evaluated the building’s airtightness and validated the house as high-performance. The result is a home that is not only visually stunning but also highly functional, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible.

The homeowners are already reaping the benefits of the sustainable design, with constant year-round temperatures and humidity levels, and low energy bills.

“The homeowners were referred to us because of our experience designing bespoke high-performance architectural homes, and we thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with them to realise their dream,” says Rohan. “Meeting high-performance criteria needn’t be at the expense of beautiful architecture; in fact,
we believe it is fundamental to creating truly beautiful architecture, for beauty surely extends to the experience of living.

“Integral to all Rohan Collett Architects designs is the inclusion of sustainable building interventions, as we accept the vital role architects play in reducing the environmental impact of construction. Homes that are healthy for the environment are also healthy for the occupants, so it’s a win-win situation,” says Rohan.

Brushed Oak warm natural Explore Quick-Step Perspective Nature wooden flooring was supplied by Flooring Xtra Ferrymead, as was the Belgotex Boulevard nylon carpet in colour Pavement.

After a successful tender process, Matt Stephens and Hamish Inch of H+M Builders were appointed as the main contractors for this build. Matt says their company specialises in bespoke architectural builds so they were delighted to win the contract. “What Rohan has done with this home is to push the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of design and marrying that with passive, high-performance principles,” says Matt. “Typically high-performance homes can lack the design flair, but this house with its curves and angles really is one of a kind.”

Although this made for a complex build, Matt and his team thrive on that complexity. “It intrigues us, and we get to showcase our top-level craftsmanship.”

Rohan and his team equally enjoyed the collaboration with H+M Builders. “We are equipped to support all stages of a project – from initial site selection to the finishing interior touches – so that the process, not just the end result, can be enjoyed,” says Rohan.

“However, we appreciate that every project is unique, and so we adopt a flexible approach, tailoring our services according to specific requirements. To realise the unique potential of every project, we are constantly exploring beyond the boundaries of established norms, experimenting with cutting-edge technologies, materials and construction methods to devise intelligent and innovative solutions to challenges of brief, budget and context. Ultimately, we want to create sustainable homes that are healthy, a joy to live in, and architecturally unique, turning heads and turning down energy use.”

When asked to describe the finished home, Rohan notes, “We believe a finished home is best described by those who live in it, and our clients describe it as a sanctuary. It’s a place where they feel calm and connected to nature, but also incredibly comfortable and secure. It’s a home that serves their needs now and into the future, while being a beautiful and lasting reflection of their values and lifestyle.”

For the homeowners, the house is a timeless modernist oasis that blends privacy, comfort and sustainable living into one harmonious space. In their own words, “We love coming home. Living here feels easy; it’s a home we can breathe in.”