Halswell House

Nic Curragh Objects Ltd
  • Category Residential
  • Year completed 2014
  • Location Christchurch
  • Awards National Finalist 2015 - Cat 2 Residential New Home
  • Photos Building Image

Gallery

Project Description

This modern interpretation of the classic, converted European Barn is located within a compact rural setting. The two storey house has a simple rectangular plan divided into two living zones. By simply offsetting the plan at its mid point it as created the spaceous double height living areas with an office loft to one half whilst separating the bedrooms and bathrooms in the other. Facing due north and positioned centrally on the rural block the approach comes from the south east along a driveway that winds past an existing pond and leads your view over a planar green roof formed garage. This ramping of the land over the garage assists in connecting the main house to the land at its highest point. Entry to the house under the cantilevering eave is via a deck which appears to float, bringing you in past the bamboo and native fern groves that flow through to the other side of the glazed garage link. Once inside three enormous recycled hardwood beams, which formed a strict component of the brief divide the floor levels in the living areas. The double height dining area has floor to ceiling glass and stacking exterior doors on the north elevation which slide out of sight to extend the informal dining to the outside. An off form concrete wall dissects the dining & lounge spaces. Upstairs two long bespoke joinery units double as barriers and gallery display units for the bridge to the Office loft and direct you to the Master Bedroom and Utility room. Materials are keep very honest both inside and out with a small palette of materials and selected timber veneer through out. The Western Red Cedar cladding is to grey with time much the same as the Disphyma Australe planting on the green roof will festoon over the garage entry.