Residential Design

The brief from the client was “a light modern home, with clean refined finishes without being a sterile modernist box. The house to maximize the site potential for sun and views, and blend with the landscape”. The home had to be comfortable for a couple, yet ably accommodate extended family, friends and some large hobbies.

The creative solution involves a light, spatially interesting home. The house changes level to follow the contours of the site. It is anchored to the site with solid local stone. Materials progress in refineness of quality and detail as the house rises up. Ceiling planes and changes in floor levels were used to define spaces and invite people into the home, and pass through the shelter to the spaces and views beyond.

Having lived in the home for several years the clients still enjoy and appreciate the house and wouldn’t change a thing.

Selected for the prestigious Waikato Fine Homes Tour, this house has the ‘wow’ factor, yet drew comment for being practical and livable, not just a ‘showpiece’. The home was also chosen as the feature property for the Waikato Times, House and Lifestyle Magazine Feb 2008, with the garden featuring in a later issue.

The home has a country feel with hints of French and Kiwi style. Light and sunshine flood the house via a plethora of french doors and bifold windows, which also frame views and enhance the concept of the outdoors being an intrinsic part of the indoors.

“ A house should be peaceful to come home to at the end of the day. We were looking to create ambience, individuality and a feeling of warmth and welcome. It’s nice to come home and feel you can put your feet up on the couches.” Homeowner quote.

This was the third house designed for these clients. They loved the previous two designs, so wanted something similar, yet different. They required a guest wing, a private master room and the ability to shut the house down for just the two of them.

By integrating the architectural and landscape design at the design concept stage, we have been able to extract the best from the site. The house is essentially a crucifix, which bisects the section. To unify the house and the site, walled courtyards were used. These provide more intimate outdoor spaces that relate to the house, with larger-scale, park-like grounds outside the walls.

Finalist ADNZ Waikato Design Awards 2012 (Houses over 250m2) Judges citation: “The classic pin-wheel plan creates a series of outdoor spaces in the process of becoming delightful gardens. A good plan and simple built forms sit happily in the NZ rural landscape.”

With a growing family the Willbraham's desired a roomy country home to accommodate teens needing their own space and extended family visiting from overseas. This 5 bedroom home was designed using Firth hot block for that solid plastered  finish, inside and out.  Set on the crest of a hill, each room was orientated to capture either the sun and views to the west over the Waikato.

Glen had worked with well-known Morrinsville builder, Peter Graham on several other projects when he invited environs to design a new home for his family. He wanted a home that showed off his building skills, provided space for his teenage/young adult family and a great environ for entertainment. The secluded upstairs master bed room has Mt Te Aroha framed by the french doors that lead out to the deck. To show off his building/finishing skill the entrance is a curved two story void, with curved stair case. Environs also provided landscape design services for the Graham's. Building on from the intent of the house, the landscape provides an entertainment area centred around the pool and a separate break-out area for the children. This house is a testament to good design withstanding the test of time, as it is now easily accommodating the extended family and grandchildren..

The clients required a one bedroom cottage where guests can withdraw to, away from the busy family life of the main homestead. The design achieves a light filled, comfortable retreat with views to the gully, blending seamlessly with existing historic buildings and surrounding landscape.

The cottage is a simple single gabled form, full of character and detail. It has a wide veranda along the northwest side which increases the sense of liveable space and creates a sheltered private area for guests.  The interior has a simple division of space into core functions and combines functions to keep the number of rooms to a minimum. The raked ceiling and a mezzanine floor adds a sense of space and volume. A high output log fire, along with increased levels of insulation and laminated glazing are included to make for a comfortable and energy efficient retreat.

The clients are an active professional couple with young family, who love quiet rural living.  Their historic home, while oozing character, lacked the living spaces required for modern day living and an indoor/outdoor flow.  It also had been altered by previous owners, unsympathetic to the style of the house.

Environs were engaged to provide a concept plan for staged modifications to provide additional room to enhance their lifestyle and meet the on-going needs of a growing family. 

The kitchen and laundry/utility area has been completed and plans are now underway for an informal living pavilion and adjacent pool.    

As a design practice we seek to work with clients to achieve the style or outcome they desire, whether that be contemporary or classical, on a limited or a substantial budget..