High above Christchurch City nestled into the hillside in Kennedys Bush, this ode to modernism articulates a striking contemporary vernacular.
On an elevated site overlooking the vineyards of Lansdowne Valley and the Canterbury Plains beyond, its simplicity speaks to the work of Mies van der Rohe.
Two pavilions intersect to create an L-shaped plan. Clad in dark cedar, the bulk of its form recesses into the landscape while extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing frames sweeping vistas and connects to the immediate view onto an infinity pool and manicured gardens.
Large cantilevered soffits and finely profiled fascias speak to the clean lines of van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion while the spatial configuration draws a parallel with Farnsworth House – a building that presents itself essentially as a single room; a versatile space defined by its innate flexibility.
Here, the living pavilion comprises a completely open plan space housing the kitchen, dining and living areas. A large extended eave to the north seamlessly extends the space and forms a sheltered alfresco dining space flanked by an open fire.
A second living area marks the beginning of an intersecting pavilion, which gives way to four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a services area.