Trends New Zealand NZ New Home Trends Vol. 30/7 | Page 81

Building a new house in a rural setting is all
about finding the best building site. For this
project, it was a prominent ridge that appealed
to the owners and architect Brent Hulena.
“We wanted the house to settle down into
the landscape, so the ridge was cut and filled to
create a level building platform,” Hulena says.
“This also meant we could create a processional
entry, with a long cobbled driveway and a large
porte cochère, which is a modern version of a
traditional farmhouse porch.”
The house forms an L shape, with the living
spaces centred at the knuckle of the L. To provide

separation, one wing houses family bedrooms,
and the other features a guest area and service
rooms. The master suite, a sitting room and
expansive office are on the upper level.
“To bring a sense of order to the large house,
we created a series of courtyards, starting with
the arrival courtyard. And there are terraces on
the northeast and northwest, so there is always
an outdoor area that is sheltered from the wind.”
Hulena specified materials that would
give the house a sophisticated look – one that
wouldn’t date. The architect says the house is
also defined by the high quality of the build.

Above: Positioning this new country
home on a levelled ridge was a way
to make it settle into the surrounding
landscape, says architect Brent
Hulena. The house incorporates
a grand arrival court with a porte
cochère, while the main entertaining
terraces face the view and the sun
on the other side of the home. The
landscaping close to the house is
formal, but gradually becomes more
informal towards the boundaries of
the site, where it merges with the
natural countryside.

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