| 63 T T Virginia Wright Every design distinctive and unique Stufkens & Chambers Architects Ltd’s wide variety of work includes high-end architectural housing, residential apartments and terrace housing, commercial, hospitality and education. ARCHITECTURE Stufkens & Chambers Architects: Curvature While there’s nothing typical about a Stufkens & Chambers Architects design, the architects share an approach that combines their skill set with their clients’ wishes and makes the most of what any given site has to offer. Stufkens & Chambers Architects Ltd was established in 2010 with the amalgamation of Marcus Stufkens’ and Steve Chambers’ previous firms. It’s a medium-sized firm that punches above its weight, winning projects on the back of repeat clients and positive referrals. Committed to quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, they craft spaces designed to inspire and endure, with the intention that each project should be distinctive in its own right, explains director Marcus Stufkens. “With our design, and for me in particular, it’s about bringing our flair to the client’s vision, hence every project has a unique look to it because every client’s different. “We don’t want to have a monolithic look to our work; we like to think that each of our projects is a reflection of the client so each is unique to itself.” The same principles apply, whether it’s a mixed-use development in an urban setting or a high-end architectural home on the outskirts of the city. The Riverbank Quarter development is a two- to three-storey complex of 14 mid- to high-quality residential units and four street- facing commercial tenancies completed in 2021. Designed to take its place in the Christchurch CBD’s internationally recognised post-earthquake rebuild, it went on to win multiple architectural awards at regional and national levels, with judges’ comments underlining the skill that produced this “exceptional example of urban design”. A more recent project designed by Marcus was the regional winner of the NZIA 2025 Canterbury Architecture Awards for its carefully considered response to both its site, zoned rural fringe, and the owners’ unique lifestyle. It sits on a hectare of land, but the house had to be built in the same area as its predecessor, which gives it a prominent street-facing profile. Central to its design were the clients’ desire for privacy and their wish for open family living, while also giving consideration to their beloved family pets, including two Clydesdale horses and Snow the goat, and especially the inspiration provided by the majestic, circular form of the long-established, 12-metre high golden elm tree that neighbours the house, explains Marcus. “It was the elm tree that dictated the design. It was just eye-catching with a perfect circular form which was the sculptural inspiration for the curvature form I used for the functional rain screen around the house.” Working closely with the family-oriented clients, whose love of the outdoors and natural space led them to the site in the first place, Marcus came up with a design that incorporates a new 9m x 4m pool to complement the existing tennis court, while leaving room for the annual display from the mature cherry trees, and for the two horse paddocks. The layout allows for indoor-outdoor flow and easy interaction with their pets, thanks to the way the new stables are integrated with the house through a connecting path that allows the horses to walk up and poke their heads in for a pat, to the enjoyment of all. Again, one of the judge’s comments sums it up: “Constructed using a rich yet resilient palette of materials, this residence exemplifies thoughtful planning and design, balancing contemporary living with natural harmony.” With offices in Christchurch, Tauranga and Dunedin, Stufkens & Chambers Architects Ltd’s wide variety of work includes high-end architectural housing, residential apartments and terrace housing, commercial, hospitality and education. “We don’t want to have a monolithic look to our work; we like to think that each of our projects is a reflection of the client so each is unique to itself.” Ph: 03 388 8111 - www.batesjoinery.co.nz Manufacturers of premium designed Kitchens, Wardrobes, Timber Windows, Stairs & Joinery. We offer a full, award winning interior design service for all your new build or renovation needs. Set up an appointment with our in-house designer today. CONCRETE BROTHERS 0508driveways www.concretebrothers.co.nz • Industrial Concreting • Residential Concreting • Decorative Concreting • Quality Products • Superior Workmanship Showroom now open at 186 Carlyle St, Sydenham, Christchurch T: 0508 DRIVEWAYS (0508 374 8392) Email: sales@concretebrothers.co.nz
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