Greytown is New Zealand’s oldest planned inland town and is characterized by it’s genteel Victorian architecture and established suburban streetscapes.
The towns population has received an influx of urbanites escaping the city in recent years with several new residential developments in response. Flat, wide open spaces and heritage character encourages the familiar brick, tile, hip roofed typologies, however Four Gables attempts to advance the mass produced suburban family home through a site specific response, considered detailing and refined materiality.
In response, traditional gable and valley roof forms have been augmented to achieve a striking street presence and architectural identity while defining a highly functional family home that is sensitive to its provincial suburban setting. By lowering the pitch of the intermediate ridge line, the A- symmetrical gable forms are emphasized with generous living areas planned around the rear, north- west facing, outdoor terrace.
Area:
233 m2
Architectural:
Holmes Architecture
Construction :
Tom Higgenbotham
Structural :
Essen Engineering
Joinery:
Renalls Joinery
Photography:
Andre Vroon
More than the sum of its parts, Four Gables is a simple building elevated through careful planning, attention to detail, composition and form. The four gables generated by the H plan each present a unique architectural response; flush garage doors, exaggerated verticality and structural portal frames, but are unified through the arresting white exterior colour scheme, wing wall detailing and A-symmetry.
The H plan is configured with living and entrance wing to the west, master bedroom/garage to the east, connected via the guest bedroom wing and corridor overlooking a landscaped courtyard. The living spaces are a collection of multifunction open plan rooms creating distinct functionality while allowing for connection and retreat simultaneously. The lounge is a quiet space with moderated natural light for the built-in projector; the study is annexed to the entrance with cedar screening and the kitchen/dining space also accommodates a sitting room in front of a built-in fire, TV and window seat overlooking the private and generous north facing back yard.
The purity of the exterior form and detailing is continued with the interior scheme, balancing a refined white palette with oak and cedar finishes. Credit should be given to the client for promoting the clean white exterior scheme which complements the simple gabled forms and has been offset with vertical cladding at various widths + horizontal cedar elements connecting the two gabled pavilions. The builders have beautifully executed this simple vision resulting in a functional family home with striking architectural identity and presence.
