Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 31 No 1 New Zealand | Page 24

The house has a highly symmetrical
form, with a large central gabled volume
and four matching square pavilions – two
off each side. The space between these
pavilion elements creates the sheltered
outdoor living areas.
Schist stone was quarried on site to
form walls for both the house and landscaping. This is teamed with Corten steel
plate and shuttered concrete. Shallard
says all the concrete was poured insitu,
and used in its raw state, which gives the
house a semi-industrial aesthetic.

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The effect is reinforced by a series of
tall, structural steel arches that frame the
front gable, creating a dramatic entry.
These have been left to weather and gather
a rusty patina that matches the Corten
steel on the pavilions.
Shallard says the owners came from
a large, traditional country house, and
although they wanted a modern home,
they didn’t want to sacrifice all sense of
tradition.
“The design was always going to be a
balance,” he says. “We needed to provide

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every modern convenience and crisp
materials and finishes, but it was also
important to keep some traditional references. The gabled volume, for example,
is reminiscent of a traditional form, but
reinterpreted in a modern way.”
To enhance the visual drama of the
entry, the architect framed the space with
concrete, and added a mirrored wall, with
a steel-framed mirror, opposite the doors.
A door to the left opens to a hallway leading to the formal lounge pavilion, and the
family living area in the central volume.