Homeowners discuss living in their Superhomes...
John & Justine | Hillsborough, Christchurch
Designed to take the visitor on a journey. Enter through the pohutukawa red front door into the double-height entrance and the exterior cladding continues inside, blurring the boundary between inside and outside.
Moving through the archway, your gaze is first drawn to a feature antique cupboard and then to a panoramic view of the city and the Southern Alps. The sloping timber ceiling from the living area continues outside, providing shelter over the generous macrocarpa deck.
A window seat frames the view of St Augustine’s Anglican Church; hidden cupboards form the balustrade wall of the stairs to ground floor bedrooms; and switchable glass in the ensuite shower ensures you can continue to enjoy the view from this sanctuary. A third bedroom and bathroom are located upstairs. Hidden in the wardrobe is a climbing wall that leads to a loft that borrows light from the bedroom below via a glass floor.
Energy saving sensor lighting, wide doors and hallways, and acoustic rated bedroom walls make living on the hill easy. Energy-saving and sustainable features include a 10,000-litre rainwater tank for toilets, laundry, and dishwasher; heat pump hot water heating; and MVHR (Mechanical Heat Recovery and Ventilation).
The low maintenance, durable, and sustainable exterior features permanent mounting points for scaffolding – a thoughtful touch to make future maintenance work easier.
“The main thing was the even temperature and the quietness. The quietness was something I wasn't expecting. A very calm environment... very Zen”
Justine
“When we first came here I was paranoid about the doors (laughs)... but actually it's nice to have the ranch slider open on a cold sunny day... We'll have the door open without any fear of being too cold.”
John
“A house design that WE wanted, rather than a box that was passive.”
Justine
“Would I do it again? The answer is YES. There are immeasurable benefits of living in a house like this..”
John
“See materials as being true to themselves – timber is timber, plaster is plaster, brick is brick... you have texture, a bit of variety.”
John
“(The triple glazed windows and doors)... they do a really good job – stylishly”
Justine
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