HINUERA ON

I HAVE A MATE, LETS CALL HIM ANDY (WELL CAUSE THATS HIS NAME ANYWAY), WHO LIVES IN A TINY ONE-BEDROOM BACH NEAR THE PLACE WHERE OTUMOETAI MEETS THE SEA. I OFTEN SIT ON HIS DECK SIPPING WINE AND WHILE GAZING ADMIRINGLY AT THE IMPRESSIVE HOUSE ACROSS THE ROAD I SUGGEST HEY WHY DONT YOU GO LIVE OVER THERE? Story & Photography: ROLAND BART EBBING
AH, YES, Ive been meaning to, he muses wryly in reply, perhaps one day Ill get around to it, after all it does look quite nice really doesnt it? Its occupants, Steve and Delwyn Nicol, think so too and on meeting them in their breath-taking abode you get the feeling they are intent on staying put for quite some time to come. (Ah well, tough luck aye Andy.) If I had to define this house in one word it would be fusion. With the design brief the Nicols wanted a place both timeless and modern that would function as a home as well as a work base all the while reflecting the environment that surrounds it of both industry and ocean. It was several meetings with their architect Jorgen Frandsen from Ambienti on the roof of the one storied bach that provided the inspiration to create a beach house that also reflected the industrial nature of the nearby shipping port.

60

uno.architecture

O
uno. 2007
61

...THE OPEN PLAN, YET INTIMATE LIVING AREAS WITH PINE PLY LINED CEILINGS, MAINTAIN THE BEACH BATCH ATMOSPHERE, A FEATURE WHICH EXTENDS OUTSIDE TO THE WIDE OVERHANGING EVES BLENDING EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS.

62

uno.architecture
Its not hard to see Frandsens northern European influence coming through with strong, simple, yet highly functional design throughout. With views sweeping over the harbour to the formidable presence of Mauau, the open plan, yet intimate living areas with pine ply lined ceilings, maintain the beach batch atmosphere, a feature which extends outside to the wide overhanging eves blending exterior and interior design elements. Offsetting this, the raw exposed steel work surrounding the expansive glazed areas is again impressive in its robust functionality and lends a semi-industrial quality to the home, without being hard and unforgiving. Inside, the clean flat interior walls are uninterrupted by skirting or architrave with just a subtle negative detailing surrounding doorframes - modern and sleek. Delwyn played the role of interior designer choosing a gallery-like soft white throughout to accommodate the many stunning artworks that are showcased in their home, some of which are her own creations. The kitchen continues this theme and is both fresh and non-interrupting - important in an open plan living environment. COSY AND NICE While planning their dream home the Nicols too lived in a tiny bach, the one that used to occupy the same site. It was an experience that taught them when its just the two of you, you dont necessarily need as much living space as you may think and, in fact, that cosy can be kinda nice. So while designing the layout for their perfect home they kept this in mind. After all it is essentially still only a two bedroom home they modestly declare of their 330 square metre dwelling and thats not even including the 78 square metres of second storey deck area. Well Steve does have a spacious office for his plumbing business

THE RAW EXPOSED STEEL WORK SURROUNDING THE EXPANSIVE GLAZED AREAS IS AGAIN IMPRESSIVE IN ITS ROBUST FUNCTIONALITY AND LENDS A SEMI-INDUSTRIAL QUALITY TO THE HOME, WITHOUT BEING HARD AND UNFORGIVING.

uno. 2007
63

and Delwyn her studio for painting and sewing. I guess both these rooms could potentially be considered bedrooms too. To be honest I think they just want to make sure the kids dont consider moving back home again. And after all there are two bathrooms and four toilets. (Did I mention Steve was a plumber?) That said, the open plan main living areas, though spacious, are indeed still surprisingly intimate. With the offspring all grown up the Nicols want to enjoy living together, sharing each others company, not rattle around in opposite wings of a manor and never meet. The garaging too takes up a fair wack of the space allocation with a double on the left, (for her) and an oversized garage cum workshop for Steve to operate his plumbing business on the right. The floor level in this area is dropped to provide additional stud height, not just to accommodate the present requirements of Steves van with roof rack fully laden with ladders and drain pipes but also to potentially house a boat or a mobile home when Steves plumbing days are finally over. Twin garaging of course means two road entrances which took a bit of extra effort to get approval for, but with the front entrance in the middle, does lend a nice symmetry and extravagance to the place - which brings me back to the beginning. If there was one feature the Nicols wanted for their new home it was a grand entrance. And from my experience the first impressions are quite impressive indeed. Flanked by driveways a lush grass strip leads you from the kerbside up to meet the central spine of the house that rises above you in an almost cathedral like manner. Sand like Hinuera stone lines her garage and softens the vertical stack bonded block work construction. The oversized front door pivots open to reveal the continuation of Hinuera stone along the left wall drawing you within. Before you in angle steel and laminated pine is a stairway to heaven drawing you up to the light of the open plan second level. The juxtaposition of stone, steel and pine provide a visual smorgasbord that I believe undoubtedly generates the effect the Nicols were after.

64

uno.architecture

THE NICOLS WANT TO ENJOY LIVING TOGETHER, SHARING EACH OTHERS COMPANY, NOT RATTLE AROUND IN OPPOSITE WINGS OF A MANOR TO NEVER MEET.

uno. 2007
65

Its obvious the Nicols love living there. Delwyns favourite time is when the morning sun pours in through the panoramic harbour facing windows of the main living room and you can look straight out over the sparkling ocean waters to the Mount. Its like youre permanently on holiday, she says. Soaking in all this place has to offer is like savouring the complexity of a full-bodied wine. Strong yet delicate, rich yet humble. A good year, and I dare say, one that will age well with time. And one well worth pausing for a moment to appreciate, aye Andy?

66