Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 33 No 1 New Zealand | Page 38

Previous pages : Creating two separate wings provided the solution for the design of this tropical house on an awkward L-shaped site by architect Robin Tan of Wallflower Architecture + Design . All bedrooms are on the upper floors of both wings , which are joined by a covered linkway at this level . The more public spaces are on the lower levels .
These pages : Guests drive into a granite cave-like garage , complete with a central circular skylight revealing the pool in the roof garden above . This lower level also extends back into the basement facilities which include the entertainment room , steam room and a large multipurpose room .
The starting point to solving a design challenge can sometimes be a very simple idea – that then grows and evolves to produce an end result that exceeds the expectations of both architect and owners .
For architect Robin Tan at Wallflower Architecture + Design , that simple idea was to split the house he was designing for an awkwardly shaped site into two separate blocks .
“ The site was an L-shape , with a very narrow frontage and it also sloped up to a flat section at the back ,” says Tan . “ The owners ’ biggest concern was how a new house could be designed to fit on the site .”
The existing home had been set on the flat platform at the back , with the garage and servant ’ s quarters on the street front . As a result , the access looked like a service entry for the neighbouring property .
But giving the new house street presence was only one of the challenges Tan faced . The owners wanted extensive recreational facilities , while local planning guidelines meant homes in the area couldn ’ t exceed two storeys plus attic . search | save | share at