98 | BUILDING Brears Builders T T Russell Fredric Builder, architect working in sync Exterior materials include a combination of horizontal cedar cladding and Nu-Wall aluminium cladding. Architectural home-building company, Brears Builders, has grown its reputation through building high-end residential projects across the Bay of Plenty, including lake houses, lifestyle properties and family homes. The company often becomes involved early in the design stage, working with architects and clients to refine building methods, materials and construction details before work begins on- site. Owner, Matt Brears, says architectural homes require a different approach from standard residential building, with more planning, organisation and problem-solving required throughout the process. “I like doing interesting projects and thinking outside the square to make them work,” Matt says. “When you’re building architectural houses, it’s not all straightforward, and sometimes you’ve got to work out how to build what the architect wants. If we can get involved before the plans are drawn up, we can work with the client and architect to work out the best way and best products to actually use.” One project that reflects Brears Builders’ standard of work is a two-level, 300sqm lake house at Lake Ōkāreka, designed by Bellbird Architects as a holiday home for relaxed family living and low-maintenance use. The bach sits on a flat lakefront site with uninterrupted views, allowing the design to focus on indoor-outdoor living and connection to the lake environment. Exterior materials include a combination of horizontal cedar cladding and Nu-Wall aluminium cladding, providing a balance between light- and dark-toned natural timber finishes and low-maintenance materials. Timber detailing is also carried through into interior spaces to visually connect the exterior and interior materials. The interior spaces were designed to maximise natural light and passive heating through large areas of glazing, allowing the floor slab to absorb heat from the sun and release it gradually, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year. The heart of the bach centres on an openplan kitchen, dining and living space with timber detailing and a restrained material palette. Large sliding doors lead to decks and landscaped outdoor areas. The home includes four bedrooms, a study and a second upstairs living area, allowing the house to accommodate extended family and guests. A large garage was also incorporated into the design to accommodate vehicles, boats and recreational equipment. Outside of the physical design elements, as a lakeside retreat the bach was intended to create a sense of calm within its environment and provide a space for relaxed family living. Both the client and Matt are extremely pleased with the result, with the design, materials and build quality also impressing those privileged to view it. “I’ve taken other potential clients through that house and got other house projects from that one. Most people love it when they walk in,” says Matt. Brears Builders began in Auckland, where Matt worked alongside an architect developing and building houses, before later establishing the business and focusing on architectural homes. The company has now been operating for more than 20 years. Today, Matt’s role comprises primarily project management, scheduling and coordination of subcontractors, which is particularly important on architectural builds where materials and specialist components often need to be organised well in advance, with some materials needing to be sourced from overseas. The company employs a small team, with an emphasis on training its builders in architectural construction and detailed finishing work. His two staff members, William Couldrey and Tom Blackburn, started as apprentices, and have now been with the business for eight years. After more than two decades in business, Matt says the focus remains on building quality architectural homes and maintaining strong relationships with clients and architects. “At the end of the day, you’re building someone’s home, and you want to make sure you get it right for them.” Proudly supporting Brears Builders
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