Words: Adrienne Matthews | Photos: Tessa Claus
German-trained architect Simone Wenk of Architecture Studio Mapua has a passion for designing buildings that are resilient, use smart building management systems, have a low carbon footprint and low energy consumption and are super comfortable to live or work in.
A house she designed for Katrina and Hamish Ballantyne in Mapua has not only followed all those principles but is proving to be a complete joy for the owners.
“It is a magical location,” says Katrina. “We had lived in an old house on the property for a year but it didn’t take advantage of the amazing estuary and mountain views. We wanted a forever home that was going to be small enough to suit all our needs, but open and spacious and without any corridors or hallways. Most importantly, it had to enable us to appreciate the fantastic views from as many spaces in the house as possible and take full advantage of the natural light and warmth from the sun.”
The result is a contemporary version of a two-bedroom Kiwi bach which sits as if floating above ground at the edge of the Mapua Estuary. “We were informed by the Tasman District Council that we needed to raise the original height so it was well above ground level due to the coastal location, but that worked out hugely in our favour,” says Katrina. “It has enhanced the views even more.” Simone has designed what feels like a large airy space and yet it is only 120msq. The high, angled ceilings in the main living area and large areas of windows help give it a feeling of spaciousness. “We were keen to use timber on both the exterior and interior,” says Hamish. “It’s low maintenance, is a natural product and feels warm.” The couple particularly like the negative detailing in the A Grade pinus radiata plywood ceilings suggested by Simone.
“Working with clients for me is very much all about teamwork,” says Simone. “We sit down together and throw all our ideas into the midst and gradually develop a plan that contains all the ingredients they want. I then work up a design that will have those at its core while being architecturally interesting and in sympathy with its surroundings while functioning exactly as my clients would like it to.”
Teamwork extends to all the builders, contractors and suppliers involved. Builder Mike Stephenson from Keystone Building has brought a number of Simone’s designs to life. “Her designs work really well and the attention to detail is excellent. The use of 140mm framing timber, for example, allows for much better insulation than the standard and her recommendation of thermally broken windows prevents any condensation, adding to the efficiency of the passive heating that comes from the natural sunlight.”
With multiple piles driven into the ground beneath, the engineered floating timber floor, heavily insulated beneath, is extremely comfortable to live on. Carpet in the bedrooms adds extra cosiness. The home has two bedrooms and a flexi-space which contains a TV and sofa bed. “It has large barn-sliding doors which can be kept open as part of our main living area or closed off when people come to stay,” says Katrina. “It’s great having a dual-purpose space.”
A unique feature is a sliding bookshelf that is actually a door leading to the main bedroom off the living area. “It’s quirky but also provides that extra storage space for books that we needed.”
The master bedroom that opens onto the deck has its own magnificent views to the estuary and, like the rest of the house, is light and airy. “The ‘flexi’ room wasn’t originally going to have windows on one side but when we realised that the tuis were coming all the time to feast on the old apple trees that were legacies of the property, we had to put them in so we could appreciate them,” laughs Katrina.
The exterior cladding is a combination of coated aluminium and Australian hardwood. “The hardwood is great to work with and highly durable,” says Mike.
“We use the aluminium cladding a lot these days because it is also highly durable which is especially important in so many of these coastal areas.”
The interior design was the work of Katrina and Hamish. ITM provided the kitchen joinery. “It is compact but functions extremely well with plenty of storage behind the sliding pantry doors. We chose the blue to reflect the colours of the estuary and the sky,” says Katrina.
An absolute winner is the guest toilet with its rich painted blue below and striking jungle wallpaper above, supplied by The Inside. “The painters just loved it because it was a break for them from the more commonly used shades of white,” says Katrina. “The whole effect is so bright and joyful.” Solar panels from Harrison’s Solar are installed on the garage roof which contribute to power saving.
“The whole project was a brilliant piece of teamwork,” says Hamish. “Simone completely got our ideas from the start and then we all worked together with the builders who were very accommodating to come up with what is our perfect house.”
