| 103 T T Kelly Deeks Structural gymnastics not required The new Whakamaru o te Korowai is an amalgamation of all the various functions the City Mission had across a number of different sites. Three Line Studio ARCHITECTURE Specialising in low-energy, passive residential and community projects, Wellington’s Three Line Studio has recently designed two very different buildings that really speak to what this practice does best. Three Line Studio directors Denis Chin and Amanda Bulman say their speciality is a product of valuing the fabric of Wellington city, and being committed to improving the living environment, individually and communally. This improvement is considered in terms of material use, building performance, and contribution to the city fabric. Denis and Amanda employ low-energy, high-performance design strategies on every new-build project, and introduce as much as they are able to on renovations to existing properties. A recent new build, constructed by Modern Homes high on a hill at Crofton Downs, showcases Three Line Studio’s ability to form the potential of a site into a carefully arranged volumetric repose that satisfies the aspirations of its clients. “New builds offer the chance to celebrate the technical performance possibilities of low-energy and passive house technologies,” Denis says. “We believe houses that have a lower lifetime impact on our planet should be a requirement of every new- build project that is completed.” This site’s topography, and also its high wind zone, had Three Line Studio dropping the form of the home well down from the street. In fact, the eaves of one gable end are almost in line with the road surface beyond. “We are very much about not standing out,” Amanda says. “In many new developments, houses are trying to stand out and that’s not necessarily the way to build a good urban fabric. “We don’t need structural gymnastics without any thought for the impact on carbon footprint and the ongoing requirement for upkeep and cost. We need good, timeless, enduring design with good proportions and good composition,” Denis says. “The young family living in this home was already growing during the interaction with Three Line Studio. “They had a one-year-old during the design phase, and by the time their home was completed, they had a brand-new baby as well. “The house needed to provide a solution that would work for them for the next 20 years.’ With a layout that provides for future growth, the home also includes a high- performing heat-recovery ventilation system, extra-thick walls and roof, well-above code insulation, solar water heating, and European-sourced joinery. The interior environment is healthy and comfortable, and incredibly quiet. “This is great when you’re in an area with really high winds,” Amanda says. More recently completed is the new Wellington City Mission building, Whakamaru o te Korowai. Community work is fundamental to the values of Three Line Studio, which provides robust solutions via a collaborative design process allowing community groups to thrive in a way that’s supported and enabled by their buildings. “This work often has a major positive impact on the urban fabric in which we live,” Denis says. The new Whakamaru o te Korowai is an amalgamation of all the various functions the City Mission had across a number of different sites. A small city within a city, it incorporates Photo: Andre Vroon 35 residential units, a social supermarket, a public cafe with 100 seats, a small chapel, a medical centre, offices and meeting rooms, public toilets and showers, a laundry service, and warehousing for food distribution services across multiple other Wellington charities. Modern Homes are trade qualified, architectural builders We are proud to work with Three Line Studio delivering quality home construction for their clients. Rob Pavan 021 938596 info@modernhomes.co.nz modernhomes.co.nz A Specialist Division Of Stones Electrical Contractors Ltd i li i i i l i l Proudly associatedwithThree Line Studio 04 297 3060or 04 296 1727 www.solarzone.co.nz sales@solarzone.co.nz 7 Epiha Street, Paraparaumu SOLAR . RENEWABLES . EV CHARGERS . Design, install & commission Solar energy systems
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