Relocation location
A move from Tāmakimakaurau to Wānaka found this family with an empty section and a house to build. Threefold Architecture created the masterpiece that resulted.
WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Jamie Cobel
For those chilly Wānaka nights, the family has the warmth of the Rinna Linear 1000 Gas Fire and the Escea EW5000 outdoor wood fire, expertly installed and fitted by McIvor Plumbers & Gasfitters Wānaka.
Relocating a family of six from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island is no small undertaking. Boxes to pack, schools to enrol in, goodbyes to bid. But perhaps the largest part of this relocation was building a home to move into on arrival in their new location.
Mark and Missie wanted to create spaces which would match the needs of their growing family and the outdoor lifestyle that they lived.
“When the family and I knew we were 100 per cent relocating from Auckland to Wā̄naka, Missie and I came down to Wa ̄naka on a scout trip to find some land,” says Mark. “We looked at what sections were on the market and biked up to the sites on the upper ridge. They had wide lake views and were positioned high up on the northern side of the town.”
After walking around the four sites available at the time, the couple sat and had lunch on their preferred “piece of dirt”. The connection to their land had begun. “We were sold and could see the vision.”
And so the journey began to build a home to occupy the land and house this family. The couple worked
with architectural designer Bryce Monk at Threefold Architecture from inception to completion, on both the architecture and the interiors.
Forté supplied the Forté Urban Plank throughout the living and dining areas and provides a foundation for a beautiful and long-lasting interior.
Soft and effortless closing with integrated Blumotion from Blum make for a dream-like kitchen experience.
“This close-knit family of six were wanting a real family home,” says Bryce. “As with any family of that size, there are people coming and going all day, so it was important for everyone to have their own spaces and also come together for entertaining and being outdoors in the space.”
Structurally, the couple was also keen to maximise the size of the site and build more than one storey. They were also wanting generous-sized bedrooms and a study for working from home.
“It’s a reasonably steep site,” says Bryce. “Plus it backs onto a reserve where there’s plenty of mountain biking and walking tracks, so privacy was also a factor.”
With all these requirements in mind, Bryce and his team had their work cut out. “We always start
with function. The look and feel was a joint design process with the couple.” This collaboration worked exceptionally well with the pair enjoying all of the ideas Bryce provided.
“From the very first brief when Bryce met us on a Zoom call initially and then in-person in Christchurch, he wanted to know how we lived our lives,” says Mark. “For instance whether we enjoyed morning coffees
or afternoon drinks; movies or playing boardgames; sunsets or sunrises. From here, the shape and living spaces started to evolve.”
The first impression of the finished home is a series of ascending forms. The multi-half-storey composition is an innovative way to maintain just the right amount of connection between the spaces while also capturing exceptional views of the lake and mountainous surrounds. The garage is at the lowest level, then the entry and living spaces are at half height, and then a further half height above is the five-bedroom level. It’s an ingenious solution to maximise the sweeping views of Lake Wā̄naka and its surrounding peaks.
The Aged Brass Organic mixer taps, shower and rainhead from Plumbline represents a nod to the quality tapware chosen by this family.
As visitors ascend through the home, the deliberate craftsmanship and thoughtful design are undeniable.
A timber ceiling in the main living space makes for an instantly homely vibe. A dark kitchen benchtop with the high windows above allow light to cascade down into the central dining and living space. Alongside the immense sliding doors, skylights and beautiful rich interior textures, it’s an intentional and light-filled space.
“We’ve chosen the materials for this home carefully,” says Bryce. “The classic concrete of the garage and basement level works well. I liked doing that because it gives the home a robust foundation. It kind of hunkers into the hillside a little bit more and conjures up the idea of the garage being a pedestal for the house to sit on. For the rest of the house we chose cedar, plastered concrete and Colorsteel tray – all used in a modern, urban way.”
Bruce Raubenheimer was the lead carpenter from start to finish on the build. “The plans were complex, and the build faced many a challenge along the way, but by George did the team pull it together,” he says. “From communications to keeping the boys refreshed on site, Mark and Missie were there and committed to the build from day one. The end product speaks wonders for the trust everyone had for the whole team.”
Bruce sums up the finished build: “When you get to sit and enjoy a beer in the main open plan indoor-outdoor living area, you really appreciate just how well the house works for Mark and Missie’s vibrant family. Bryce placed a stunning and functional build on a tricky site, and it was an absolute pleasure to make it come to life.”
The biggest challenge for the homeowners was nine months of the 14-month build being in lockdown in Auckland during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Not being able to physically view the site was hard,” says Mark. “But the lucky thing was that we had a superb build team. The attention to detail was phenomenal. We were in very safe hands.”
Designing a home when neither client or designer live locally can be a challenge for some. But architectural designer Bryce visits Wa ̄naka and the surrounding area every four weeks and he knows the land well, having worked there for the past 12 years.
“For me, it’s often more about the clients’ journey rather than the home itself,” says Bryce. “Mark and Missie were great to work for. They trusted us to deliver a design that they love. It’s incredibly humbling now to turn up for a drink and look through their home and still feel really connected to it and to them.”
The favourite spot in the home for Mark is the outside entertaining space, which he says they use
all year round. “The large sliding glass panels make the space super versatile, maintaining heat from the outdoor fire, managing air flow in the summer, or cutting out that prevailing wind. It’s fair to say every square inch of our 302sqm home has been maximised to exactly suit our way of living.”
The homeowners are equally delighted with Bryce. “It was an all-round fantastic experience,” says Mark. “From the very first meeting, Bryce went deep into understanding us personally, our family and also the way we lived. This meant every aspect of our home had an emotional or functional purpose. Outside of Bryce’s professional approach, he was always up for some banter, making him very personal and great to work alongside, taking out any stress. It’s been a dream.”
The 5-rib metal roofing and metal Heritage Tray wall cladding in Horoeka colour was supplied and installed by Roofing Hub – serving the Wānaka and Queenstown region for projects large or small.
Style and function
In the kitchen, the elegance of the Caesarstone Black Tempal (matt finish) benchtop complements the Prime Ultraglaze Noir cabinetry in this kitchen, manufactured and installed by Cut It Kitchens, Wa ̄naka. The team at Cut It have created a kitchen that is not only functional but also visually stunning. The Classic Aged Brass splashback adds a timeless aesthetic, while the Blum Legrabox Terra Black Matt drawer runners and hardware ensure durability and style.
Involved in this project
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Threefold Architecture
027 425 0644
threefoldarchitecture.co.nz
BATHROOMWARE
Plumbline
0800 499 411
plumbline.co.nz
FLOORING
Forté
0508 356 677
forte.co.nz
DRAWERS & HINGES
Blum
03 379 4984
blum.com
ROOFING
Roofing Hub
03 443 2794
roofinghub.co.nz
PLUMBERS & GASFITTERS
McIvor Plumbers & Gasfitters Wanaka
03 443 4211
mcivorplumberswanaka.co.nz
KITCHEN & JOINERY
Cut It Kitchen & Joinery
03 443 5031
cutit.co.nz
