Waitarere bach an architectural winner

A Waitarere house scored twice in the annual Wellington Architecture awards.

Named Waitarere Escape, it won the Resene Colour In Design Award and was commended in the Residential New Home between 150m2 and 300m2 Architectural Design Award category.

Matthew Janes from Palmerston North designed the bach. The house is described as “a modern home designed with class and sophistication, all the while paying homage to its harsh and rugged surrounds. Drawing inspiration from the harsh landscape, cedar weatherboards and decorative wood-textured precast panels are part of a palette sympathetic to the property’s surroundings”. The judges said it explores the depths and beauty of Waitarere Beach. From the raw concrete, to the grey palette, the colours speak volumes “and send you into a dreamy hideaway”.

“This is a solid house made to survive the harsh Waitarere climate. Its precast concrete panels, combined with timber and glazing set into recesses, contrast against grasses and lupins.

“The flat roof provides a low form which blends in on the site and answers the client’s request for low maintenance finishes,” they said. The Awards were handed out last Friday in Wellington.

This year, four awards, one highly commended and three commendeds were awarded to four designers in the Wellington/ Wairarapa regional round.

The award winners are Ben Gilpin of Gil-plans Architecture, Matthew Janes of PAK Design, James Mackie of Mackit Architectural Design & Construction and Lee Turner of Turner Road Architecture.