Waiheke Island stunner from Daniel Marshall

PROJECT:             Waiheke Island home

ARCHITECT:          Daniel Marshall/Mike Hartley, Daniel Marshall Design

CARPET:               Tussore chunky loop pile from the Bremworth Collection

"Wool carpet was a natural choice for the bedrooms, helping the acoustics and providing a softer and comforting materiality."

Daniel Marshall and associate Mike Hartley designed this stunning Waiheke Island property - winner of round 2 of the NZ Twist Design Competition run by Cavalier Bremworth.

What was the brief for this project?

Our clients had seen a Church Bay house on Waiheke that we'd designed previously and they loved the layout.  They came to us with the brief to design a three-bedroom holiday home that will eventually become a permanent residence for them.  Previously they'd built a barn with accommodation on the same site.

Describe your design response

Given the 4 metre height planning restriction, we opted to work within the contour of the ridge above, as an attempt to minimise the impact on the landscape.  A landscape wall clad in local coloured stone, splays out from the primary plan form, providing a point of entry to the house and allowing the excavation that drops the garage below the ground line.

Ascending the stairs, the house is reached via a southern courtyard.  The plan form of the house is spaced between this courtyard and its accompanying northern courtyard, which are bridged by a gabled roof stretched across the long axis.  The courtyards provide the opportunity to shelter from the two predominant winds.  The north-facing house has a total floor plan of 300 square metres.

What were the key materials used and why?

Because of the high wind exposure, it was important to have quality materials that offered longevity and which were low maintenance.  Stone cladding on masonry offers that solidity and masonry finished with mineral paint is used on the main walls.  Cedar and plywood were used as secondary elements.  There is timber flooring in the main living areas of the house.

Wool carpet was a natural choice for the bedrooms, helping the acoustics and providing a softer and comforting materiality.

The choices were made in collaboration with the client - we presented a limited range of options for the finishes.  We find that when clients go off to research interior options on their own, they can quickly become overwhelmed with the huge choice on offer and it's much easier and faster for us to make some recommendations.

You chose Tussore from the Bremworth Collection range for the bedrooms.  Why this carpet?

Tussore was chosen to reference the textural qualities and tones of New Zealand's dry pastoral grasses that blanket the surrounding slopes.  It has a slight slub and uses a thick and thin felted yarn to create more interest.  The felted yarn also makes it incredibly hard-wearing.

When you specify flooring, in particular carpet, what is it that you're looking for?

Style and texture would always be first.  It's about the feel - if you walk around in your bare feet you'll notice the difference between wool and synthetic.   We are a fan of wool because it's natural and provides superb comfort.

I've also just learned that an added benefit is its ability to improve indoor air quality by acting as a natural humidity regulator.  It can absorb up to a third of its own weight when the air is humid or moist, then release it back when it's dry - something that synthetics just can't do.

Generally speaking, are you clients starting to demand sustainable products and/or New Zealand made products?

This is always a difficult one to navigate.  Some clients are becoming more aware but cost is always a factor with most decisions they make.  And in some instances, some finishes simply aren't made here such as the cedar we used.

We do have a preference to source locally made product where we can - we appreciate the quality of craft and on the whole most of our materials are New Zealand made.  It was certainly one of the reasons that Cavalier Bremworth was on our selection set.

I'd have to say the other reason is their ongoing support of the AAA Cavalier Bremworth Design Awards - we appreciate the support given to the industry and the fact they are a New Zealand company making the carpet right here.

Footnote: Mike Hartley and Nick Sayes from Daniel Marshall Architects won the 2010 Open section of the AAA Cavalier Bremworth Design Awards for unbuilt architecture.  We can assure you that had no influence on this winning entry in the Twist Design Competition.