Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 32 No 2 New Zealand | Page 85

Natural attraction
This contemporary home connects to its tropical garden environment
via an expansive rear living area and private courtyards
Sometimes ideal locations don’t seem quite
so perfect when it comes to actually building on
them. Negotiating the idiosyncrasies of the land
can be a major part of an architect’s brief.
The site for this home by Hilary Scully of
Architecture Smith + Scully is a case in point.
Nestled into a newly sub-divided suburban
plot, the land has a flow path running through
the centre of it. The house had to be raised above
this to allow water to pass underneath without
impediment or causing damage, says Scully.
“We achieved this with a suspended concrete
garage floor slab and timber pile construction.

“However, beyond the flow path – towards
the back of the home – we were able to step the
floor level down. With the ceiling remaining
at the same height, this achieved a higher stud
for the large rear living pavilion and created a
direct rear deck-to-ground connection.”
Elsewhere, connections to the lush gardens
were made via raised decks and boardwalks.
As this is an inner-city site with several close
neighbours, the sheltered side decks provide
private outdoor rooms. The clients had wanted
to connect with the tropical garden and enjoy
the sun from several areas in relative privacy.

Facing page: Character strengths
– the exterior of this house by
Architecture Smith + Scully contrasts
black, battened fibre cement with
rich red cedar. The garage door is
detailed to not read as a door on
approach.
Above and following pages: At the
rear, a spacious living-kitchen-dining
pavilion opens up to the tropical
garden environment. In contrast to
this large public space, there is an
intimate lounge on the floor above.

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