Generosity of spirit
A luxury Auckland new build by Rogan Nash Architects and Mainline Construction keeps old-world European traditions at its heart.
WORDS Cassie Doherty PHOTOGRAPHY Simon Wilson
The subject of food is never far away when it comes to this new-build three-storey home in Auckland’s Mission Bay.
It may be a home just for two, but because the homeowners are Croatian and with children, grandchildren, extended family and community to gather together, this is a house that unfolds to accommodate all.
“There’s a space for everyone in this house, which is something we considered from the outset,” says Eva Nash, co-director of Rogan Nash Architects.
Adds co-director Kate Rogan: “Everything feels welcoming, whichever area you’re in. It feels like you are being looked after.”
Here, that most often means cooking and eating together. So much so, there are two full kitchens in the house. Upstairs, the main kitchen is for everyday and family cooking, with an extra sink and oven in the large scullery and several options for dining spaces. Downstairs the secondary kitchen with a walk-in chiller opens to a purpose-built outdoor cooking area with a barbecue and fireplace: a place to congregate and linger.
“It’s not about making cooking a big performance,” says Kate. “It’s more that it’s such an integral part of the way the family works. They show a lot of generosity through the ceremony of putting food together – and we have been treated to delicious meals with them.”
It’s a sizeable home, with four bedrooms, spacious decks, two double garages, and a laundry with a chute. In the media room, where the teenagers like to hang out, there is (of course) a kitchenette. Linking it all together is a lift, plus all doors and hallways are wide and accessible. “It has been designed to make their everyday living easy and enjoyable,” says Eva.
Functional kitchens were paramount to the home’s design, with all the cabinetry entrusted to Distinction Joinery in Auckland. The team emphasises craftsmanship with a focus on bespoke and architecturally designed fittings, making the vision here a reality.
There’s some glamour too, says Kate. “The bathrooms are really special, with their geometric and metallic tile. They have a real presence, because the rest of the spaces are quite pared back, and are a moment of surprise as you walk through the home.”
Eva and Kate’s work is always well considered, from the feelings a house should evoke to the minutiae of functionality. Rogan Nash had full scope on this project, from feature lighting and custom furniture to framing art and placing sculptures. “We wanted to make sure their traditional pieces had pride of place. It really brought everything together and gave it personality,” says Eva.
It’s the study that really encapsulates the emotions of the house for Eva and Kate. In principle, it’s a tucked- away area for running the usual admin of a household. But here is where the family portraits and wedding photos through the generations are on display. “You see the whole story, and it’s quite moving,” says Kate. “We were careful with designing that space and to us the feeling really carries through the whole house.”
But careful does not mean cautious. The home is confident: clad in stone, for an immediate connection to Croatia for the owners, and with that materiality continuing inside onto the marble steps and the fireplace surrounds. Textured timber and dark louvres update the classic look and create street appeal in the upscale neighbourhood, and iconic views of Rangitoto Island and Waitematā Harbour cement its place in a New Zealand context.
With some heavily crafted elements involved, including a concrete mid-floor structure, Eva and Kate say they were lucky to have Mainline Construction on board right from the start.
Darren Pennington of Mainline Construction agrees the build posed some challenges because of the narrow street access and steep site, but otherwise it was reasonably straightforward, and he and the team thoroughly enjoyed the process – having also benefited from the homeowners’ warm hospitality. Functional kitchens were paramount to the home’s design, with all the cabinetry entrusted to Distinction Joinery in Auckland. The team emphasises craftsmanship with a focus on bespoke and architecturally designed fittings, making the vision here a reality.
“They are entertainers!” he says. “They’re great people. They would always be on-site, checking up on what had been done, and we all got along really well. We’ve actually gone on to complete two other projects for them.”
This is the first time Mainline Construction has worked with Rogan Nash, and Darren appreciated the collaborative approach. “They’re really good at what they do, and are very practical thinkers. Both Kate and Eva would often come to site together, and they are great at bouncing ideas off each other, which was helpful through the building process.”
Curtains and blinds throughout the home were custom made and installed by Lahood Window Furnishings in Auckland. The curtains in the lounge are on double tracks, made with Metallique by Catherine Martin for Mokum in Gold and lined with triple pass blockout lining and hung with an inverted pleat. Behind this, on a second track to gently filter light, is an Isola sheer in Egg Shell from Lahood’s Metro Range.
The Mixer Rug from Designer Rugs is an abstract interpretation of autumn leaves, combining amber, copper and mahogany tones to create warmth, depth and a grounding presence within the space, in perfect cohesion with the home’s interior palette.
With a strong focus on communication and project management, Mainline Construction specialises in high-end residential and light commercial builds. Darren has a passion for architectural projects where every detail matters, and is very happy with the outcome. “The house looks superb. My favourite aspect is the road-front elevation, where all the different materials come together and it’s stunning.”
Kate and Eva are pleased the couple are delighted with their new home. “We believe in architecture for a lifetime, a home that will be truly lived in and truly enjoyed,” says Eva, “and that’s exactly what has happened.”
Involved in this project
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS
Rogan Nash Architects
09 361 2548
rogannash.com
BUILDER
Mainline Construction
09 297 7150
mainlineconstruction.co.nz
CABINETRY
Distinction Joinery
027 533 7525
distinctionjoinery.co.nz
CURTAINS & BLINDS
Lahood Window Furnishings
0800 524 663
lahood.co.nz
LIVING ROOM RUG
Designer Rugs
09 300 6116
designerrugs.nz
