Origins of ‘The Pines’

The site was originally named ‘The Pines’ due to a number of significant Pine and Cedar trees of varying species scattered throughout the site. The trees have been celebrated in the new house's layout, and the site's name has been given even more prominence. The largest of these trees has been used as the central axis for the configuration of the house, landscape elements, and the central circular driveway and visual approach to the house. Through this celebration and careful consideration of the existing trees that were here long before the idea of this house, we hope the name of the site, and now the house remains a prominent feature.

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Our Approach

The beautiful modest vineyard and farmhouse architectural typologies throughout New Hampshire and California inspired the house's architectural style. We took several of the design aesthetics from these styles and combined them with the local context and our approach to contemporary architecture. The neighbouring State Heritage listed Anglewood House informed the scale of the house as well as the steep roof pitch and gable forms that address the streetscape. To ensure the house does not detract from the historic Anglewood House, the exterior features subdued tones of timber cladding and dark grey standing seam metal roofing, creating a recessive palette and allowing the landscape setting to be the most prominent element on the site.

The rest of the house follows a similar axial approach, with the layout organised along three intersecting axes, creating a flow between spaces that enhances architectural cohesion. Vaulted ceilings and unobstructed circulation on the ground floor create an atmosphere of openness and connectivity, creating active and passive recreation spaces. These spaces allow for the occupants' personalities to be displayed and celebrated, working to express the essence of the family's character, values, adventures and other lived experiences. As our clients have a young family, an essence of joy and fun has been a critical element, with spaces for larger gatherings, both internally and externally, and hidden spaces to be explored as they journey through the house.

Part of the brief for the house was to create a Smart Home, which we have coupled with our sustainable approach to the house. Technologically aware systems include automated screening systems that ensure responsible energy consumption, optimise thermal heat gain and cooling, and reduce reliance on mechanical heating. Smart electrical systems help manage electrical use when rooms are not being used, and a large solar array with high-capacity panels and the ability to integrate battery storage will supply the majority of the house's electrical usage with a surplus going back to the grid. High-capacity rainwater harvesting and reuse provide a more water-conscious approach for the house, together with low water use fixtures and fittings, reduce reliance on external sources for water and impacts on the environment.

As with all of our projects, we look to use passive means before looking to technological solutions, and even as a Smart Home, this is no exception. The house is to be constructed using reverse brick veneer to create a large thermal mass inside of the house that will store heat throughout the day in the cooler months and release it throughout the evening and the opposite within the summer months, reducing the reliance on active heating and cooling. Thicker stud walls and deep trusses also allow for additional insulation and, together with a high-performing building wrap and glazing, will create a high-performance building envelope to keep the house comfortable all year round.

The pavilion-style layout introduces an inherent openness, avoiding corridors and compartmentalisation. Such measures help reduce the home's carbon footprint, ensuring a sustainable, free, free-flowing living environment with a feeling of transparency and connectedness. The entrance space works to divide lounge and dining functions, each possessing its auxiliary spaces that flow on from primary functions. The bedrooms are tactfully positioned away upstairs to separate private rooms and offer an uninterrupted ground floor plane as the more public spaces of the house.

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Sustainable Approach

Part of the brief for the house was to create a Smart Home, which we have coupled with our sustainable approach to the house. Technologically aware systems include automated screening systems that ensure responsible energy consumption, optimise thermal heat gain and cooling, and reduce reliance on mechanical heating. Smart electrical systems help manage electrical use when rooms are not being used, and a large solar array with high-capacity panels and the ability to integrate battery storage will supply the majority of the house's electrical usage with a surplus going back to the grid. High-capacity rainwater harvesting and reuse provide a more water-conscious approach for the house, together with low water use fixtures and fittings, reduce reliance on external sources for water and impacts on the environment.

As with all of our projects, we look to use passive means before looking to technological solutions, and even as a Smart Home, this is no exception. The house is to be constructed using reverse brick veneer to create a large thermal mass inside of the house that will store heat throughout the day in the cooler months and release it throughout the evening and the opposite within the summer months, reducing the reliance on active heating and cooling. Thicker stud walls and deep trusses also allow for additional insulation and, together with a high-performing building wrap and glazing, will create a high-performance building envelope to keep the house comfortable all year round.

The pavilion-style layout introduces an inherent openness, avoiding corridors and compartmentalisation. Such measures help reduce the home's carbon footprint, ensuring a sustainable, free, free-flowing living environment with a feeling of transparency and connectedness. The entrance space works to divide lounge and dining functions, each possessing its auxiliary spaces that flow on from primary functions. The bedrooms are tactfully positioned away upstairs to separate private rooms and offer an uninterrupted ground floor plane as the more public spaces of the house.

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