The lower level is the client’s private domain with main bedroom and ensuite, river lounge, spa pool and lap pool, with access to a public river reserve. The concrete block provides a rustic and solid base.
The Middle Floor Entry Lobby is defined by a corten steel blade wall that is reminiscent of the Rangariri Gunboat wreck on the Waikato River. This floor consists of open plan living, dining and kitchen that breakout to a north facing courtyard and a west facing deck overlooking the river.
The kitchen is the core of the design as the client is a professional chef and much of her lifestyle revolves around family, cooking and entertaining. The industrial styled kitchen is versatile with mobile table/island unit in white corian and work bench in stainless steel. The floor is black tinted concrete in large module flagstones. The main stair is folded sheet steel with full height glass walls orientated to the river view. The stairs align with an external glazed recess which is like a fissure in rock between highly finished concrete fins.
The upper floor is accessed via a double volume space which leads up to a library and study/guest bedroom with ensuite. This is clad in a customised wall system, with slatted cedar battens giving a horizontal, layered appearance.