Country living at its best

This home was recently completed in a rural setting on the outskirts of Tauranga. From the outset the objective for this project was to deliver an affordable quality home that used modern and contemporary finishes to maximise the potential of the home on a budget.

The end result has become a great example of cost efficient construction that does not compromise on overall quality. In the planning stages a clever initiative was to future-proof for expansion to ensure the cost of future work is minimised. The home has an allowance in its design for an additional wing and for closing in the garage.
 
The finished home has a rustic appeal with the exterior, shadowclad (ply wood cladding) and batten.   This timber effect is proving very popular, particularly within a country setting.

Contemporary meets family friendly 

With growing boys and a new house to build our client wanted a contemporary, open plan design, that  was family-friendly. It was important to have materials that would be durable and practical, that could take the rambunctious actions of children running through the house while still having a beautiful finish. Practical and beautiful are the key words that summarise this project.

Externally the home was a pavilion-like form topped with single-pitch crisp roof, designed by Will Tatton Architecture. Large volumes of space in the living area were created with inverted truss construction, giving a thin blade edge to the ceiling. The home has great indoor /outdoor flow  and this is evident in two prominent areas. The entrance features floor to ceiling glass and looks into the native garden tucked into the  side of the home and the stand alone bath that looks out to the garden and beyond. The kitchen is bespoke and was made by an award winning designer, and is the perfect finish for the interior of this exceptional home. Outside the landscape and poll was designed by Mark Cashmore including the pool which is solar heated and keeps their active boys busy through all seasons.

 Case Study: Bond Street, Mount Maunganui - Gold Award at 2010 ADNZ awards.

Bond Street is a contemporary complex of buildings encompassing the very latest in style, fittings, materials and technology.

The Thorne Group team worked closely with the developers through the design and build process.   We worked closely with the developers team of architectural designers to bring this unique $10.2m project to completion. It took 12 months of meticulous planning to create three homes that would set a benchmark along the coast.

"The benefit of working with the team in the early stages was we could  work through the challenges we were having with the design and ensure we could innovate within budget" says Graeme.

Bond Street is clad in copper and quartzite stone, that will age and weather with the coastal air allowing it to be shaped by environment. The Town Houses also feature many firsts for architecture in New Zealand. One of these features is an automated louvre system, two stories in height. This allows the occupier to choose how much light to let into their home and create complete privacy at the touch of a button. A roof louvre was also installed over an area of decking to allow the space to be transformed from an exterior space to an extension if the interior room, making the Town Houses adaptable for different uses.

“When the louvred roof and sliding walls are closed you have a palm tree in your living room, and then at the touch of a button you can open the roof and walls like a convertible car” says Graeme from The London Group.

The three homes had a twelve-month build programme, creating one of the most significant challenges, to deliver the project on time and within the specification required.

Rustic Elegance

This home has a natural rustic charm that came to life as the project developed. The client wanted a home with timeless appeal, utilising natural materials. Our team worked with the client to ensure the home reflected this vision and kept it's design integrity. The main feature of the home is the dining room that has a large cathedral pitched ceiling and is clad in beautiful timber. The room features a large fireplace built with re-claimed bricks. The kitchen is traditional and brings the reclaimed bricks through to compliment the Arga. A rich granite bench top and handcrafted cabinets complete this warm space. The home has a shingle tile roof, timber doors and copper down pipes complimented by the beautiful landscaping. 
 

Walls of Glass 

This home build maximised the small land area, creating a home that had an open feeling for a family living in an increased density urban area.    The combination of the two distinct types of cladding contrast against large glass panes with industrial bolting to create a unique and textural finish to this home in minimilistic colours. This maintains a sense of simplicity and underpins the transitional outlook of the home so as to not overwhelm the design.  The roof rises at one end as a sail that gives a 'floating' effect that once again takes this home in a different direction. 

An entertainers delight

This home is built into a steep hill so was an interesting challenge for the Thorne Group team. The end result is a home that features a wonderful indoor / outdoor sheltered living space, where the master bedroom, kitchen/dining and lounge all connect to an interior courtyard.  When the large bi-fold doors are all open, it gives the feeling of another room. This area is at the heart of the home.

The kitchen benchtop on the island unit is a feature on it own.  The canti-levered effect is accentuated by halogen lighting that gives the effect the benchtop is floating.  The benchtop material is Corian, that creates a seamless effect that seems to wrap around the unit.