Issue 33 December/January 2010
A one-acre valley site in rural Paraparaumu inspired the rustic design of this family home.
Words Soraya Nicholas Photography Erin King & Kevin Hawkins
For years, Graham and Jacqui Nelson had lived in a picturesque valley in Paraparaumu, so when they decided to build again, they were hesitant to leave the area they knew. And when they found a slightly smaller section for sale in the rural suburb they loved, it made sense to stay close by. “We previously had three acres, and we just wanted something not quite so large,” says Graham. “This site was perfect, and it had the flatter element that we liked too.”
Their last house worked well for them, but there were elements they wanted to improve on, and some aspects they wanted to replicate. “This time around we were very particular about what we wanted,” says Jacqui. The house had to be two storey, with space for at least three bedrooms upstairs. “We didn’t want to have to worry about anyone seeing the kids rooms!” This meant the master suite had to be located on the ground floor, along with at least two large living spaces.
The first decision the Nelsons made in relation to the project was to find their builder – Dean Billot of BK Developers. It was Dean who recommended an architectural designer to them, and they immediately made contact. “When Dean recommended Peter Davis from A.D Architecture Ltd, we immediately decided to use him. It made sense when they had already worked on so many projects together as a team,” comments Graham.
Although the Nelsons were quite specific in their wants and needs, they took Peter’s advice in terms of how to achieve the home they desired. “They knew what they expected from me, and because they had built before, they were realistic about what we could achieve,” says Peter. “Because they were clear about what they needed from the design, I was able to be very precise, and work within their budget, and deliver the house they had envisaged.”
The style of the dwelling was important to the Nelsons, and Peter worked hard to produce conceptual drawings that incorporated the design factors they wanted. His colleague, Brynn McCauley, also assisted during the design phase.
In order to empathise with the rural environment, the home was created to match the countryside. A gable was placed in the middle of the house, with corridors on each side and further gables at each end. “I would describe it as a modern take on a gabled barn,” comments Peter. The materials used to craft the home also add depth to the design.
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