Location: Mt Maunganui
Key Design Features: This major alteration began with a nondescript 80’s plaster duplex, which was striped back to its concrete base, and rebuilt to maximize the floor plates, outdoor connections, and create generous glazing to draw in the panorama of the Omanu coast line. The expansive views are captured deep into the floor plan through the concept of “inviting the outside in”. This concept encapsulates Carnachan Architecture’s approach, and at Surf Road these informed design decisions ranging from space planning to façade design, landscaping, lighting, window configuration and shading details.
Key Building Features: The building is framed in steel, and clad in concrete, plaster and timber.
Awards and Media: Shortlisted for Home of the Year 2022. Award winner in the RMB House of the Year Awards 2020.
Status: Built by Calley Homes.
Location: Mount Maunganui
Key Design Features: Making the most of a small 200m2 site by creating 5 split levels, creating interconnected living spaces of great variety.
Key Building Features: The building is framed in steel, clad in cedar and seam locked metal sheet, and has cavity sliding architectural series doors.
Awards and Media: Supreme winner of the RMB House of the Year Awards 2016. Featured in House and Garden Magazine - March 2017.
Location: Tauranga
Key Design Features: An irregular shaped block of land is the site for this three bedroom home for a young family of four. The sites unusual shape was also a key concept ‘driver’ for this homes design - comprising of two glazed pavilions. A generous entry bridges the wedge like space between the two pavilions, The pavilion spaces themselves vary in height, with the living area having a high stud, to allow the house to be well lit and to be passively heated during winter. During Summer, the large cedar clad eave provides solar protection, and allows the ‘wall of glass’ to be opened up.
Key Building Features: The building is clad in cedar and black metal sheet, with double glazed sliding doors and polished concrete floors.
Location: Tairua
Key Design Features: Fringed in Pohutukawa and located on an isthmus, the dual aspect of this dune front retreat allows the upper level of this beach house to capture panoramic views to the harbour and offshore islands. To accentuate the panorama, the beach front facades are oblique, extended and topped with a floating wedge-like roof above slender clerestory windows. At night the floating roof is uplit, creating even more drama.
Key Building Features: The building is framed in precast concrete, clad in timber, and has clerestorey glazing and a sculptural roof to capture the afternoon sun.
Location: Mt Maunganui
Key Design Features: In part a homage to the creosote bach and the archetypal black-barn, this new home is a modern interpretation of the New Zealand vernacular. The design process involved careful planning of spaces that would best take advantage of the views, the wind, the sun, while still providing a strong connection to the landscape.
Somewhat unusual for a beach-front property, this house steps back from the beach and elevates itself on a landscaped terrace; creating garden views, privacy and seclusion. From the interior, the light and spacious interior frames sea views via large shuttered windows and exposed trusses on the upper floor.
Key Building Features: The building is framed in concrete and timber, clad in board and batten, and has clerestorey glazing overlaid with timber louvres.
Location: Mt Maunganui
Key Design Features: Sitting in a prominent position overlooking the Tauranga Harbour, this house balances the generous proportions of the architecture and the strength of concrete construction with a focus on everyday living, comfort and informality.
The client requested a concrete, timber and stone material palette and a strong focus on indoor–outdoor living. The house is composed of a series of concrete platforms and cantilevers that provide a strong sense of “horizontality” or extending to the horizon, as well as protection from the sun and rain. Stonework detailing complements the concrete construction, while lightly stained cedar warms the concrete aesthetic. Architectural glazing creates transparency, allowing for water views from anywhere in the house. Within this robust framework of the house, each room is comfortable and welcoming with its own distinct personality. “We wanted surprises in different rooms; to not be too predictable,” says Mark. “It was a way of creating a more intimate scale within a house that has strong architectural form.”
Location: Omokoroa
Key Design Features: With a strong emphasis on indoor/outdoor living, the pavilion design provides both shelter and framed views to Motuhoa Island. In summer the pavilion opens up to the coastal environment, while in winter the house takes advantage of its sheltered courtyard
Key Building Features: The building is framed in timber and steel, and clad in cedar.
Awards and Media: Supreme Award winner in the RMB House of the Year Awards 2021.
Status: Built by Reside Construction.
Location: Whitianga Waterways
Key Design Features: Located on a man-made island in the waterways, this home has panoramic views to the entrance canal, neighbouring reserve, and the harbour in the distance. The design draws inspiration from the waterways itself, wrapping the house around a protected central courtyard that brings light into the indoor and outdoor living areas, while simultaneously providing shelter and outlook to the water and landscape. The selection of natural materials such as stone and timber reflect the areas logging and quarrying history, and where key elements incorporated throughout the landscaping, exterior and interior of the home.
Key Building Features: The home is clad in stone and timber.
Awards and Media: Award winner in the RMB House of the Year Awards 2021.
Status: Built by Cove Construction.
Location: Mt Maunganui
Key Design Features: Set around a central courtyard, this home delights in vibrant contrasts between openness and enclosure, light and shade. The site itself is long and narrow, surrounded by built up neighbours. However, at the center of the site it enjoys outlook and is bathed in light. It is at the center of the site that the courtyard is located, providing sheltered outdoor living screened from neighbours. Tall render brick walls enclose the house creating a sense of solidity, privacy and shelter. On the road front the house hints at the atria-like interior, with double height glazing framing a timber clad chimney.
Key Building Features: The building is framed in timber, and is clad in bagged brickwork and timber.
Status: Under construction.
Location: 72 Durham and 69 Spring Street, Tauranga
Key Design Features: This feasibility study for an 14 storey hotel and conference centre development, is located on a large corner site in the CBD.
The design masses the building around two contrasting parts, a glass tower, and an broad ‘podium’ featuring a large terrace.
The building includes 3 levels of car parking, 147 hotel rooms, 9 suites, 4 apartments and 4 penthouses. On the podium level is a mix of retail, food and beverage spaces, spa, and a 600 seat conference hall.
Location: 53 Spring Street, Tauranga
Key Design Features: This feasibility study for an 10 storey office building, is located on a small L-shaped site in the CBD.
The design masses the building around three parts, a side core featuring a vertical concrete wall, a suspended curtain glass facade, and a large podium courtyard.
The design features generous floor to floor heights (4m), large floor plates overlooking the harbour, and a double height foyer (8m).
Location: Mt Maunganui
Key Design Features: This contemporary home is located on an elevated site setback from the street, with panoramic views to the water. The house is spatially arranged to provide ‘connectivity’ on the ground floor, and ‘outlook’ on the upper floor. This created a juxtaposition of floor plates creating a dramatic cantilevered structure that ‘floats’ a covered balcony above the driveway. Interior living spaces flow to exterior living areas on both levels, providing a variety of sunny, sheltered and private spaces to enjoy. Focusing on the view, the house has been deliberately pared back to endure the harsh coastal conditions. Exterior finishes for example include brick and tongue and groove timber, which subtly change with the light during the day.
Location: Mt Maunganui
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Location: Mt Maunganui
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Location: Tauranga
Key Design Features: The SPAC (Sports and Performing Arts Centre) is a modern flexible indoor space; a venue for sports events, performance art shows, exhibitions, music rehearsals etc. The design emphasises the school’s creative and active values with a dramatic and uplifting structure. An economic and sustainable approach will be taken in the construction process. The roof is mono pitch, the structure is steel framed and the cladding is traditional weatherboard and vertical Colorsteel. Sustainable Environmental Design (SED) features include rainwater harvesting, LED lighting, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified claddings. This will provide significant cost savings from an energy efficiency perspective and provide a quality environment, purpose built for the 21st century.
