Karori, Wellington

This knock down and rebuild had a house that faced the wrong way on a well established flat and sunny section. The new two-storey home is sited towards the rear of the section, so the living and outdoor areas face north.

The brief was to create a clean-lined, contemporary family home that would accommodate three teenagers and their sociable parents and have “light, light, light” – big windows to capture the sun and to bring the sense of suburban greenery indoors.

The lower level is clad in dark-stained vertically run cedar, wrapping over the north facing living areas, the garage and a blade wall that hides the living room from the driveway. The upper level is clad in crisp white plaster, and is staggered and pushed towards the rear of the site. A cantilevered section slices through one corner to hang above the entrance, sheltering it from the elements.

Inside, there are four bedrooms, three bathrooms  and two living rooms – allowing space for separation. Interior features include: a bold concrete stairwell with a screen of matai boards (rescued from the previous home), a sophisticated kitchen – complete with fingerprint-proof black cabinetry with bevelled handles, Calacatta Supreme Stone bench tops and a scullery with a coffee/bar area – and an ensuite with floor-to-ceiling Carrara marble-look tiles and concrete floor.