HARO Premium Sustainable Timber Flooring

HARO Oak Light White Naturale is a premium timber floor that adds a touch of elegance to this stunning home. Made in Germany, it carries a 30-year warranty and is compatible with all underfloor heating systems. It was the perfect choice for Ben and his family, knowing they were choosing a beautiful yet durable timber floor that will stand the test of time.

The design is fundamentally two distinct pavilions –one for bedrooms and one for living, each connected by a central entry set back from the main building. There’s a change in angle in the two sides in response to the irregular site boundary and to provide a sunny outdoor living area, sheltered from the prevailing southerlies.

“The separate pavilions are positioned and shaped to embrace and frame the view of the Remarkables mountain range,” says Ben. “We used natural building materials and earthy, recessive colours to reinforce the connection to the environment.”

The Remarkables mountain range is very much front and centre of the home, with views from all the bedrooms and living spaces. The living wing holds the kitchen, dining, lounge, fireplace and study, with a mezzanine space above. This entresol has morphed in its usage over the last year or two, with children’s Lego creations being replaced with a studio space for Ben and his business partner to work in.

“The engineered oak timber floor gives it a warmth, and we like the Nordic maple-coloured appearance which was the aesthetic we were after,” says Ben. The fire area is also a favourite hang-out spot for all members of the family, with polished concrete surrounding the poured board-formed concrete walls (moulded by cedar planks). The dark-painted walls give the space that comfortable cabin feel. “There’s definitely a sense of living in an alpine landscape, yet the house provides a comfortable retreat to enjoy a glass of pinot.”

The project went out for pricing and tendering and Summit Build was selected for the job. Wayne O'Donnell, owner of Summit Build was delighted to be accepted for the project.

“This was the first build our company completed for Ben Hudson Architects, and we’ve done multiple builds with them since then,” says Wayne. “It was a pleasure to work on this build, mainly because of the passion of the owners. We were delighted to make sure they got what they wanted.”

Wayne explains despite the interesting type of roof and the insulation being ahead of its time, there were no major challenges or hold-ups with this job.

Ben deliberately chose materials like the concrete and engineered timber flooring to keep the home simple. The exterior cladding is a European product from Estonia. It’s a heat-treated pine, meaning it has excellent durability, as well as the grain lending itself to the alpine environment. “Temperatures can range from 30 degrees in the summer to minus six degrees in the winter,” says Ben. Thermally broken windows with argon and Low E coating, alongside the insulation well above Code requirements, mean this home is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Landscaping and extensive planting have also been used to bring the natural environment closer, which has attracted bellbirds and tuis as regular visitors. Ben says, “It’s as much about the experience of living here as the physical structure. Listening to the birds, seeing them close by, watching the changing light on the mountain range, is wonderful.”

Simplicity is the key to this home’s success. It has an unobtrusive silhouette and sits very naturally within the context of the dramatic alpine landscape. One of Ben’s many architectural heroes is Todd Saunders. “Todd is a Canadian architect based in Norway. I like how his studio adopts a highly contextual approach to their buildings,” says Ben. “It’s often the landscape that’s the hero, not the house. We’re not trying to compete with the landscape.” This sentiment indeed resides here.

Windows With

WELL LIT

All electrical work as well as the stunning lighting in this property was provided and installed by Campbell Electrical.

ARCHITECT

Ben Hudson Architects 021 050 2247 benhudsonarchitects.com

BUILDER Summit Build 027 437 8496 summitbuild.co.nz

WINDOW JOINER

Aitken Joinery 03 445 4000 aitkenjoinery.co.nz

ELECTRICIAN

Campbell Electric & Heat Pumps 03 442 4441 campbellelectric.co.nz

FLOORING HARO Flooring 0800 427 669 haro.co.nz