R&B Build and RBA Studio demonstrate that it’s possible to create a cosy sanctuary in the heart of suburban Ōtautahi Christchurch, with a thoughtfully designed home that balances privacy with outdoor connection.

WORDS Kathy Young PHOTOGRAPHY Kelly Shakespeare

On a prominent corner site in Cashmere, Christchurch, sits a home that stops traffic – literally.

“The number of comments I get from people... Everyone asks, ‘Did you do that one on the corner?’” says Bevan Murdoch, general manager at R&B Build, the company behind the construction of this home.

A forever home for empty nesters, this represents the third project R&B Build has completed on this prominent road, a testament to its growing reputation in the area.

The brief was clear: create a future-proofed home that could accommodate visiting family while maintaining an intimate feel. “The homeowners wanted it to feel a bit more cosy than their previous home and have intimate rooms,” explains Bevan. “Their last house was quite big and open, but this time they wanted smaller spaces. And they wanted the garden to feel like an integral part of the home, visible and accessible at every turn.”

To meet this brief, the layout is thoughtfully divided into private and public wings. The private wing houses two guest rooms, a bathroom, laundry and a separate toilet. In the public wing, expansive views of the garden continue to take prominence. This area is divided into three key spaces: the kitchen and dining area, a reading room, and a media room. Tucked discreetly off the kitchen is an office.

The eye-catching roofing and cladding are both tray profile Colorsteel in Karaka, installed with precision by BDH Roofs.

What sets this project apart is the seamless integration between indoor and outdoor spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the 316sqm home ensure a constant visual connection with the carefully planned gardens. The kitchen window height was meticulously adjusted multiple times to balance the homeowners’ desire for privacy while cooking with their wish to maintain views of the outside world – a detail that exemplifies the considered approach to every aspect of this design.

Materials were chosen with longevity and low maintenance in mind. The exterior features an innovative combination of precast concrete panels, engineered Accoya Color Grey wood, tray cladding in dark green, and feature schist stonework, which was locally sourced. “The concrete is obviously quite a natural product,” Bevan says, “and the green cladding was chosen to blend in with the foliage.” The Accoya wood, an acetylation modified pine product from the Netherlands, offers a unique zero-maintenance solution, where the treatment and colour penetrate through the entire piece of wood, maintaining its integrity even when cut.

Stepping inside, the transition from the strong exterior to the light-filled interior feels like entering a peaceful retreat, where a full-height glass window frames the garden beyond. The interior continues the sophisticated material palette, with the precast concrete panels carrying through from the exterior.

From a process perspective, R&B Build works closely with sister company RBA Studio to ensure that homeowners’ expectations are realistic, and the budget aligns with the design. “In our industry, we noticed that architecture and building can often be quite siloed,” says Bevan. “We wanted to bridge that gap and provide clients with a total package. So that the build comes in on budget and there are no big surprises.”

In this case, the homeowners also had high expectations of the team. “They were really clear with us that they wanted the best quality finishings, and so we made sure we delivered that,” says Bevan.

Construction, however, presented its own set of challenges, particularly in achieving the precise alignments necessary for the seamless transitions between spaces. “The soffit on the outside had to be exactly the same height as the ceiling on the inside,” Bevan notes. “It sounds easy to do, but they’re made up of different constructions on each side, so everything had to be very well thought out.”

As you step outside into the garden, the sense of peace deepens. One of the home’s most striking features is its covered deck area, where circular skylights create an artistic interplay of light and shadow. “Some of the skylights have glass, and some are open,” says David Miller, designer at RBA Studio. “This innovative approach allows natural light to filter through while maintaining shade – a clever solution to the summer heat management.”

David explains that the circular skylights were introduced to balance and soften the sharp lines of the architecture. The garden itself feels like an oasis, carefully designed to complement the architecture of the home. Circular stepping stones, Japanese-inspired plantings, and a mirrored sculpture all come together in harmony.

The kitchen design and install were carried out by Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery in Christchurch, including the cabinetry made of Prime Art Planked Veneer and finished in a custom stain. The benchtop and splashback are porcelain Marble Yamuna by Florim.

The project benefitted from lessons learned during the Covid era, with R&B Build adapting its procurement processes to ensure smooth material supply. “Through that time, we got very good at talking to suppliers and understanding what they needed,” says Bevan. “We took big risks on ordering products a long way ahead, not having a job to use materials on, but backing ourselves that we’d get the job.”

What truly sets this project apart is the collaborative approach between all parties involved. Bevan emphasises this point: “A key thing that stood out was the relationship between homeowners, the designer and the builder throughout that whole journey. There was always clear communication. The designer was involved every step of the way with the foreman, me and the homeowners.”

The result is a home that perfectly meets its brief. The attention to detail in every aspect, from the precisely aligned ceilings to the thoughtfully placed skylights, creates a residence that feels both sophisticated and welcoming. It’s a hidden sanctuary that feels worlds away from the outside.