70 | Complex build a winner The home’s street-facing façade was anchored by a substantial stone wall constructed from locally sourced Tai Tapu stone that integrates the garage while mitigating the impact of the elevated home and providing privacy. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Archco Architecture: Artwork Homes T T Rosa Watson “It came together beautifully. The client was super pleased. It’s always good to be able to sit back at the end of a job and be proud of it.” Replacing an earthquake-damaged Christchurch home on a constrained Redcliffs site with a two-storey modern home seemed like an impossible task. Christchurch-based construction company Artwork Homes was up for the challenge, however, with the resulting home picking up a 2025 ADNZ Canterbury Regional Award in the 150-300sqm category, along with a Commended award for interiors. The Beachville Road project, designed by Archco Architecture and completed in 2024, involved elevating the home 1.6 metres above ground to meet high flood hazard zoning regulations, while remaining within the original footprint. It was a complex job, with a combination of regulatory, structural, and design constraints. The home’s street-facing façade was anchored by a substantial stone wall constructed from locally sourced Tai Tapu stone that integrates the garage while mitigating the impact of the elevated home and providing privacy. The home itself is built around a structural steel framework that enables expansive openplan interiors. Artwork Homes fabricated all timber wall frames on-site, allowing the team of up to five to work precisely to site conditions and the steel skeleton, ensuring the geometry and internal lines were executed accurately. “I think we probably touched each individual piece of timber four or five times,” Artwork Homes director Lochie Lane says. “We did everything from the foundations right through to the concrete steps and installing joinery.” The elevated ground floor required a concrete rib and infill system, craned into place along a narrow site, with structural steel tied into footings 1.6 metres below the finished floor. Extensive coordination was required to meet the site’s flood zone requirements, manage access, and allow for multiple trades. Features include cedar shingles as cladding on the upper levels and dark-stained cedar shutters. A standout feature is the cantilevered steps that have a “floating” effect, achieved through precise detailing and construction, something Lochie says anyone familiar with construction would be able to appreciate. The craftsmanship continues inside with a timber staircase supported by steel fin balustrades and oak treads. Oak flooring and neutral walls combine with walnut joinery, a stone bench top, and a microcement hearth. Lochie says the team is “chuffed” with the result. “It came together beautifully. The client was super pleased. It’s always good to be able to sit back at the end of a job and be proud of it.” The ADNZ Awards recognition was also a thrill for the team. “To be able to produce a house that’s winning awards is bloody good.” Lochie says Gareth Ritchie of Archo Architecture was an impressive architect to work with. Over its five years in business, Artwork Homes has built a name for delivering architecturally complex homes with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, structure and build integrity. Working predominantly on bespoke, design-led projects, the team of nine, led by owners Lochie and Dion Welbourn, brings particular expertise to projects involving structural steel, elevated construction and technically demanding sites. The firm offers tailored construction methods, fabricating elements on-site to ensure precision and responsiveness to design and site conditions. The team works closely with architects, consultants and clients on every project, ensuring complex builds are delivered with clarity and consistency. www.artworkhomes.co.nz artworkhomesltd Proud to support Artwork Homes +64 3 348 0639 hello@theflooringcentre.co.nz 147 Blenheim Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8440
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