Welcome home
Every day is a holiday at this luxurious Far North home by Arcline Architecture – and everyone’s invited.
WORDS Cassie Doherty PHOTOGRAPHY Jess Burges
Arcline Architecture’s Alan Simpkin says he unhesitatingly specifies EZpanel cladding by Specialized Plaster Systems. EZpanel is a cavity-based autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) panel cladding system, which, when finished with a layer of fibreglass-reinforced polymer-modified cement plaster, creates a lightweight, highly durable exterior cladding. The home’s exterior plastering is by Absolutely Plastered in Kerikeri.
The lighting design by Firefly Light & Design was themed around contemporary luxury. It was intended to highlight the variety of textures used throughout the home while creating a warm and inviting ambience. On the lobby wall is Song ‘D’ by Flua, which accents the large marble tiles with a soft, indirect light.
Upon arrival at this Far North home by Arcline Architecture, the resort-style entrance and the oversized front door tell you everything you need to know: come on in.
The brief was simple on this project, says Alan Simpkin, Arcline Architecture founder and design director, who has known the family for a long time.
“They’re very social, very friendly,” he says. “They wanted a resort feel about it, like they were always on holiday. And they wanted a big house that family and friends could enjoy. They’re big entertainers, so they wanted a place they could share with all their mates. And with kids and grandkids, they wanted a home that catered to all their family needs.”
As a first impression, the feature entrance here is a stunner. “It’s almost like arriving at a hotel,” says Alan of the grand portico and sweeping circular driveway. Move beyond the double-height lobby with its floating staircase, and the view shoots straight through to Tohoraha Mt Camel and Houhora Harbour.
The form of the house is very much a response to the site and its amazing location.
For a start, there was a 5.5-metre height limit, says Alan, plus the site slopes away to the back of the house. “We chose the most level part of the site to put the house on, which was L-shaped, then tried to stack as many rooms as we could along the harbour side. A lot of liaison with the council and photographic 3D modelling got us approval to build it higher.”
The Elton Modular by Kovacs Design Furniture is made in New Zealand, and features soft curves, luxurious comfort and a versatile modular design. It perfectly fits the requirements of the homeowners for functionality, a welcoming feel and natural, textural finishes.
The height restriction drove the design of the roofline. “It has a mid-century modern influence,” says Alan of the low-pitch roof floating over swathes of glass with large overhangs. The style affords privacy and ensures the house blends into the landscape. “All the colours had to be recessive,” says Alan. The front of the home presents a more solid facade and opens up at the back with natural materials like stone and cedar, adding warmth and texture. “It invites the outside in.”
Flowing straight off the kitchen and living areas is an impressive outdoor area with large automatic blinds, a pizza oven, fireplace and barbecue. Running parallel with the house is a pool and a louvre-roofed cabana, and the lawns extend beyond the pool to meet up with the dramatic-looking edge of the hillside.
Despite appearances, Alan says the house is not in an exposed area. It’s well set back from the edge and is remarkably sheltered from wind.
The views, however, are unbeatable, and Alan loves that some of them are unexpected. Right at the end of the main hallway is a guest room that faces the garden. With two walls of glass and recessed blinds, it’s almost like the garden is on stage, with the added surprise of a sightline through the greenery straight up Rangaunu Harbour. “It gives quite a theatrical feel,” says Alan.
Perhaps the most cinematic outlook is from the main bedroom ensuite upstairs, where the star of the show is a freestanding bathtub that overlooks the sparkling ocean.
The main suite is the hideaway for the homeowners in a busy house that is open to everyone. In addition to the guest rooms, the layout includes a bunk room for the grandchildren, a handy coffee and tea station, a study and a media room. A fully stocked bar sits alongside one living space, connected to the dining area with a double-sided fireplace, which leads to the kitchen with a huge island and an efficient scullery.
Kerikeri Cabinets worked closely with the interior designer to create the full suite of cabinetry for the home, including the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and bespoke built-in furniture.
An elevator ensures the home is future-proofed, and wide doorways and level entrances are intended to reduce any tripping hazards or access issues.
The interiors are a collaboration with interior designer Aleysha Pangari of APD Interiors. Her scope included conceptual through to developed design, from colour and material selections through to cabinetry design and specifying fittings and furnishings.
Her aim was to create a sense of living in a luxury resort with a nod to the local landscape. “The clients wanted to create a welcoming destination for family and friends. Also importantly, the home needed to be conducive to seamlessly entertaining guests indoors and out, providing a variety of spaces for enjoying meals, conversation and family time with young children.”
Aleysha’s creative process starts with a full understanding of the homeowners. “They were keen on creating a wow factor while referencing the beauty of the surrounding natural environment through use of earthy tones, organic forms and texture. Using high-quality product throughout was also important.” With this in mind, Aleysha’s concepts created a sense of understated luxury and harmony.
“I drew up ideas for how each space would look aesthetically and spatially. For instance, to create a sense of arrival, the large format tiles on the foyer wall are reminiscent of the inside of an oyster shell, and the large pivot front door is finished in a metal application that provides a sense of movement and colour, representing the bay below.”
She says achieving the best results is a collaborative process, working with a mutual understanding with the lighting designer, contractors and cabinetmaker. “What is rewarding for me is the privilege to work with such a wonderful couple to deliver their dream home.”
The house has come a long way since Alan’s pencil sketches while walking around an empty site. And as luxurious as the final result is, for the homeowners, it’s all about the lifestyle. That also includes some quiet time for themselves. As avid gardeners, there are extensive vegetable patches with a glasshouse to keep them busy. With that, and an open door for family and friends, it’s everything they had hoped for and more.
Involved in this project
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Arcline Architecture
09 408 2233
arcline.co.nz
INTERIOR DESIGNER / CABINETRY DESIGNER
AP Interiors
027 436 4596
apinteriors.co.nz
LOUNGE SUITE
Kovacs Design Furniture
09 309 5553
kovacs.co.nz
CLADDING
Specialized Plaster Systems
0800 0800 79
specialized.co.nz
ROOF
Metalcraft Roofing
09 470 0870
metalcraftgroup.co.nz
LIGHTING DESIGN & SUPPLY
Firefly Light & Design
09 446 0934
fireflynz.com
CABINETRY
Kerikeri Cabinets
09 407 1000
kerikericabinets.co.nz
The requirements for this new build on a Karikari Peninsula hillside called for muted colours to minimise visual impact. The roof is Metdek 500 in FlaxPod, manufactured and installed by Metalcraft Roofing.
