11 minute read
GRAND DESIGNS
from Build & Renovate 27
The essence of interesting spaces
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Build & Renovate magazine chats with Matt Gutsell, associate director of Sheppard & Rout Architects, about what constitutes grand, sustainable design and how going back to the fundamentals can create a truly stunning, longlasting home.
Current projects Sheppard & Rout associate director, Matt Gutsell has been working on include the new Spark corporate building in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square, South Brighton Surf Life Saving Club and the rebuild of Majestic Church on Durham Street.
In terms of residential design, Matt has recently worked on homes in Governors Bay and Rangiora, as well as his own home in Lower Cashmere.
People centre their lives around their homes, a place to be with loved ones and build their lives up from. To many, your home is considered one of your most prized assets, not only because of its security and monetary value but because of the memories and associations forged within it. While complicated feats of architecture never cease to amaze us, a simple and straightforward design will withstand the test of time by outliving any architectural trends and by outperforming other homes that chose complicated solutions over pragmatic ones. But that doesn’t mean that simple or sustainable solutions can’t make for breathtaking architecture.
“Pragmatic design principles – keeping forms and materials simple – can reduce costs versus overcomplicating things,” Matt says. “Through good design, sustainability can be viewed in different ways: sustainable technology, sustainable materials, passive house design – the drive behind that is simple forms and airtight, efficient spaces. This can be limiting architecturally and in particular interesting spatial connections.
“A key driver is to assess the environmental response to the site and include good passive house design principles at early stages of the concept – put simply, balancing solar gain, shading and ventilation. A good verandah and sheltered courtyard provide simple solutions.” Matt says.
Homebuilders are looking to reduce their impact on the planet more than ever, and with that comes new challenges to overcome in regards to space.
“We’ve noticed more clients reducing the scale of the build for budget reasons but for also people changing the way they live.
“To reduce the scale of the house, you have to make the most of transitional spaces and interconnected volumes so the house still feels generous.”
Balancing the market and intriguing design
When building your home, you have to balance smart design solutions with how the market views the property – unfortunately, intelligent design doesn’t always match up with how your house is valued. For example, homes are often
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PAINTING Category Winners NZ Master Painter of the Year Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and finalists again in 2020. valued on not only how many bedrooms there are but how big those bedrooms are, which can be a bit tricky while working with limited space.
“Interesting spaces and volumes reduce the footprint of the house, but also challenge the way clients use those spaces versus the resale values and requirements.
“Your bedrooms might not be the perfect measurements for the valuation. Is it an interesting architectural space or is it ticking all the boxes? It depends what you find important and what you place a priority on.
“Again, it comes back to the client. A client that doesn’t mind stepping sideways a bit to achieve a unique solution.” Life is a balancing act, and homeownership is no exception. Achieving unique solutions to create a home that’s a joy to live in becomes a lot simpler when you trust intelligent design principles.
Sheppard & Rout 104 Salisbury Street Christchurch admin@sheprout
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Experience the freedom to explore bespoke options when looking to build your new home. Use one of our concept plans and customise to fit your site, tastes and budget or work with our architectural designers to create an entirely new plan to suit your individual style.
Contemporary, open, bright and low maintenance are all hallmarks of our distinctive solid timber homes. With our commitment to consistency, communication and superior quality, we pride ourselves on creating striking architectural homes for discerning clients.
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Where superior quality and structural integrity meet aspirational design
Quality, style and high performance never go out of fashion. When it comes to housing, there is only one name which has, for nearly seven decades, consistently delivered all three. And that name is Lockwood Homes.
For Wanaka based Lockwood clients Tony and Sue, designing a new home was about making a space they could enjoy on their own, and share with their family and friends.
They came to Lockwood to talk about options for a high quality, architecturally designed home as well as a smaller dwelling on the site.
Chris Fraser and his local Lockwood team in Wanaka walked the land with them, and together, they embarked on a design process that would accommodate Tony and Sue’s original ideas and create a home they could enjoy with their family for many years.
Tony and Sue wanted to incorporate covered outdoor living and entertainment areas and passive house features, making the most of their north-facing views. They also briefed Chris and his team on their requirement for a second two bedroom home to cater for overflow family and friends and to use as an Airbnb rental.
“Tony and Sue’s site had great views. The challenge was making the most of that outlook while maintaining privacy for both the main home, and the smaller dwelling.” says Chris.
“The existing Lockwood Pavilion plan, designed by architect Pete Bossley, provided the perfect starting point.”
A two bedroom accommodation unit was also built on the site
A soaring roofline and large joinery openings provide a natural connection with the outdoors
The soaring wing with laminated beams and large joinery openings captured the natural connection with the outdoors that Tony and Sue desired.
“The design was then customised to create sheltered outdoor areas, office space and other additional requirements. The Pavilion was then sited in front and below the smaller dwelling providing privacy for both buildings.”
Tony and Sue are delighted with their new home and accommodation unit. The interior showcases Sue’s design flair and the special items they have gathered throughout their travels around the world.
They supported Wanaka-based industry where they could, purchasing sustainably sourced redwood tabletops, serving bench and bench seats through a local timber craftsman. The schist for the pillars came from Cluden Stone Quarry and the incredible stained glass window commissioned from local leadlight artist Jennifer Robertson.
For Lockwood Homes, every building is an embodiment of its brand. The name ‘Lockwood’ is your guarantee of a home built on a reputation for outstanding quality.
If you’re looking to embark on a new build, bring your ideas to Lockwood and let us bring them to life.
The aquatic construction experts advocating for better access to pools
Swimming pools capture the imagination of people everywhere, no matter the culture, young or old. New Zealanders in particular have a special connection to the water, with approximately two thirds of New Zealanders living within five kilometres to the coast, according to the census.
On top of that, New Zealand has the tenth longest coastline in the world at 14,000 kilometres. Kiwis’ special connection with water is only natural given our proximity to it and how it plays such a large role in our lives.
With that knowledge in mind, Jacobs Construction has been building here in New Zealand since the 1970s, when founder Lance Jacobs started building cowsheds in Waipukurau. From there, Jacobs became the sole distributor of Myrtha Pools – the world-renowned Italian pool designers and constructors – in New Zealand in 1999.
Specialising in commercial pools, Jacobs Construction is well-known for creating aquatic visions both domestically and abroad. Some of the company’s most distinguished accomplishments include the wave pools at Sydney’s Wet n Wild and the pools for the London Olympics. Leading these projects was founder Lance Jacobs – after his unexpected death earlier this year, he has been succeeded by his son, Blair.
Lance also cared about philanthropic projects, sponsoring the local swim club in Waipukurau, among other local organisations. In regards to domestic projects, Jacobs Construction has worked closely with SwimTastic, an Auckland-based swim school offering swimming lessons from three months old to adults across all levels and abilities.
A private pool built in Hawkes Bay by Jacobs Construction.
Before his passing, Lance had been great friends with SwimTastic’s CEO and founder Mark Bone, a lifetime swimmer and coach who oversaw the 1996 Olympic campaign and led New Zealand to two Olympic gold medals. Jacobs Construction recognises the importance of water safety, with preventable drowning deaths on the rise here in New Zealand. This starts with a solid and sound water education.
Most children are first exposed with learning how to swim at their school pools. As summer is just around the corner and more Kiwi kids will be dipping their toes in the water around our shores, Jacobs Construction encourages schools to look at upgrading pools. According to New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER), many schools share their pools or use council or community pools for lessons. Around a third of schools also made use of external swimming instructors, but most swimming teaching is done by classroom teachers.
Half the schools surveyed needed help with funding, often drawing on community fundraising to maintain their learning-to-swim programmes. People beyond children should have equitable access to aquatic facilities as well.
Jacobs Construction co-director, Jill Jacobs says, “Everybody, whether you have a disability or not, should have the opportunity to swim.”
Paraswimmers, through the Paralympic Movement, have been brought into the spotlight, but swimming isn’t just a sport that’s reserved for the best athletes. Swimming is a low-impact sport with many cardiovascular benefits, including increased flexibility in muscles and joints. It’s also vital that people with disabilities have the knowledge to swim as it could literally save their lives.
Preventable drowning fatalities at beaches in 2019 saw a 50 percent increase on the 2013-2017 average of 18, with 27 fatalities, according to Water Safety’s Drowning Report. Whether you need a new pool for your school, home or commercial facility, Jacobs Construction strives to provide you with world-class construction here in New Zealand, carrying out innovative pool design from Myrtha Pools in Italy. Jacobs Construction is coming to Christchurch to work on the Metro Sports Facility.
Jacobs Construction PO Box 283 Waipukurau (027) 405 9101 info@jacobsconstruction.co.nz www.jacobsconstruction.co.nz
Fall in Love with Your New Build
Whether you are looking at building a new home, need renovations, are needing a commercial project done, or are looking for a Myrtha Pool, here at Jacobs Construction we exist to create residential and commercial builds that our clients will fall in love with.
With our expertise and knowledge we work alongside you, to deliver builds that are beautiful, incredibly functional and built to the highest standard. We pride ourselves on always making sure our clients are always at the forefront of the decision making process, which makes the building process with Jacobs Construction a breeze.
Ready to bring your dreams to life? Contact us now!
