Situated on an enviable prominent suburban corner site within walking distance of Sumner village and beach, this home by Borrmeister Architects takes beachside living to a whole new level.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Thorp

THE PERFECT POOL A unique slimline pool, designed by Pioneer Pools, is both beautiful and durable, and adds that cool beachside vibe.

When called upon to breathe new life into this earthquake-damaged family home, Borrmeister Architects looked to the clients’ love of the seaside and their own environmental awareness when creating the design.

“The existing family dwelling would have required considerable remediation to convert into a healthy home, so the decision was made to rebuild,” says Wulf Borrmeister, director of Borrmeister Architects.

The requirement for the home was to provide easy beachside interior living that was environmentally conscious while being comfortable and contemporary.

“The clients were very involved in this project, and we loved that,” says Sarah, project lead and associate at the firm. “We worked together to ensure the house met the client’s needs and was suited to beachside living. We created spaces with seamless transition from inside to out as well as providing ample opportunities for outdoor living.”

LEADING LIGHTS Accent Lighting shows off its contemporary lights, all sourced from Europe.

The generous roof overhangs, the extensive colonnade accommodating timber sliding screens and a central courtyard with an outdoor fire blur the boundaries between house and landscape, and passively work to provide the home with comfort for all seasons.

But there were challenges. With a not particularly large site, street boundaries on two sides and tough planning restrictions to work with, it was a tricky job to fit the ideal home onto the site.

The use of the courtyard concept provides that seamless connection to the outdoor living, acting as an extension of the main living area. Two wings of the house on either side of the courtyard are connected via an internal link. With a wall on one side and glazing on the other overlooking the courtyard garden, it has a gallery-like feel.

The house is clad predominantly in whitewashed macrocarpa, giving a beachside look and feel to the exterior. It delivers a relaxing, calming, beachside vibe.

BEACHSIDE LIVING This award-winning home by Borrmeister Architects shows environmentally conscious design at its best.

Environmentally conscious design is displayed at every stage of this project. The home is north-facing, with the majority of the rooms facing all-day sun. This supports solar gain and natural cross ventilation with opening high-level windows and skylights. Shading from the sun and protection from the weather is provided by roof overhangs and sliding screens designed to respond to the local daily sun path. There are also solar panels and hot water in-slab heating, functioning as a thermal mass to keep the house consistently warm.

The thorough landscape planning early on in the process meant fruit trees and vegetable gardens were part of the design from the outset and hence provide the essential component of future-proofing the home and complementing the clients’ lifestyle. The vegetable garden sits on the street frontage and provides an interactive nod to the passing pedestrians.

By blurring the transition between inside and out, this home has maximised its coastal location and hillside surroundings. And the judges at the Canterbury Architecture Awards 2022 agree, saying, “The all-day sun, shelter from the prevailing winds and privacy are achieved through the clever use of levels, extensive glazing, generous rooflines and sliding timber screens. Well-proportioned interiors and a thoughtful floorplan provide a warm, light home, which responds to the clients’ lifestyle.”

The structural engineering was a vital component in this build. Miyamoto International NZ provided design consultancy to the project and was able to meet the architectural requirements to have a minimal impact on the site, including a very strong Maxraft fully insulated slab foundation. As a result, the house is highly resilient and incredibly well insulated.

All details of this home are well thought out, with every inch of space on the property being considered. Borrmeister Architects takes into consideration every aspect of how the client likes to live and how they can live in the home sustainably. Context, function and environmental integrity informs the architecture as a start – there is no pre-determined style. It costs very little (or sometimes nothing) to incorporate basic passive design principles into any new build.

Borrmeister offers a full range of architectural services in the residential, commercial and industrial fields. The team of seven are actively connected to their communities and together they regularly work on council planting days, maintenance of reserves and rubbish clean-ups. For them, it’s an integral part of their role in creating a sustainable future for all.

PRACTICAL AND RESILIENT The innovative engineering firm Miyamoto International provided integrated and streamlined services on the engineering aspects of this build.

To complete the functional areas of the home, the homeowners worked with multi-award-winning kitchen and bathroom designers Ingrid Geldof Design. The homeowners had previously worked with Ingrid, and so they knew they would get a solution that was refined but also highly practical and would stand the test of time.

The request was for the home to be light and airy, so Ingrid selected a fine Caesar Stone Fresh Concrete benchtop for the kitchen. The paint colour was Resene Triple Barely There for the back wall of kitchen joinery and Quarter Cut American Oak for the island and wall units. The splashback of Florim cement in light grey provides a soft, warm grey tone to this space.

“All of the materials we selected are highly durable and are sustainable in the sense that they will not date in a hurry,” says Ingrid, from Ingrid Geldof Design. “As one of New Zealand’s most awarded design companies, we provide clients with a process of design that is professional and enduring.”

This space has certainly been designed with easy living in mind. “The spaces were relatively compact,” says Ingrid. “But adequate for the requirements of the homeowners. The architect did a great job of creating something a little different on a long, slim section.”

With a smooth design and easeful execution, this home is beautifully set up now to allow the homeowners to get on with the job of enjoying the ever-changing waterscapes and a seaside within touching distance.