New Plymouth House, NZ Property, Building Photos, Residential Design Images

Wallin House : New Plymouth Residence

Contemporary NZ Home, New Zealand design by Saunders Architects

21 Dec 2011

New Plymouth House

Design: Saunders Architects Limited

Location: New Plymouth, Taranaki Region, North Island, New Zealand

Photos: Mark Harris

Wallin House – New Plymouth

The Client’s brief called for a home that embraced living in the city; that made use of a small site with light filled open plan living and yet provided privacy to outdoor entertaining areas. The design was to incorporate an existing house on the site but this was not to restrict the outcome of the design.

The home has two levels with the main living and guest bedrooms on the ground floor level and the private domain of the owners master suite and study on the first floor level. A home theatre finished in deliberate dark tones is provided for night-time entertainment.

The “link or spine” of the building that links all the interior spaces is in the form of a double height atrium running through the centre of the home and this anchors the integrity of the design….almost like the trunk of a tree with its branches radiating out from the central from. The high atrium is double glazed at both ends with additional “portholes” on the sides creating a play of light and an openness to the central core. A louvred panel at the street end provides privacy whilst maintaining light infiltration.

Large “building blocks” gathered around the “mother” high spine are clad in deep red Titan board, vertical shiplap cedar and Graphex plaster making a statement of form that offsets the flimsiness of the glass transparent walls and floating glass roof to the outdoor area. Hues of grey attach the building to its landscape and the silver Alucobond entry tower and canopy provide a focus to the street.The vintage red lacquered front door becomes a beacon that says “welcome” to draw in those visiting the home and to venture over the boardwalk that floats above a river of stones.

Overall the home achieves the brief and more with a sense of exhilaration as each of the elements within the house is discovered and explored and most of all…enjoyed in a style of living that is relaxing, comfortable and inspiring.

Wallin House images / information from Saunders Architects

Location: New Plymouth, New Zealand