| 79 ARCHITECTURE Straightline Architectural i n f o@kencocons t ruc t i on . co . n z - 021 1 15 5925 • Retaining Walls • Architectural Designed Homes • Fences • Decks • Driveways • Excavation • Foundations • Concrete Work • Pole Sheds • Design and Build Sheds • 70 Square Metre Granny Flats WE DO IT ALL Stunning location a focus for design brief The Wānaka location heavily influenced material choices and construction detailing. T T Kim Bowden “A smart layout places rooms where they function best – living areas for connection, bedrooms for quiet. Even small decisions, like adding a kitchen island or a separate office, can significantly improve daily life.” A Wānaka home designed to capture alpine views, withstand the region’s seasonal extremes, and accommodate a social, flexible way of living has been delivered by Bradley Tucker of Straightline Architecture. Bradley says the design brief was driven by both the setting and how the home would be used. The residence is set in one of Central Otago’s most scenic alpine environments, and its owners wanted a home that could accommodate extra family and friends without feeling crowded. “The client wanted a four-bedroom dwelling that focused on the views,” Bradley says. “They also wanted a rumpus with a bar. When they had larger groups of family and friends at the home, they wanted everyone to have their own space.” Originally, the design explored a more direct arrival from the road into garage spaces, but orientation quickly became a key driver of the final form, with living areas prioritised towards northern light and mountain outlooks. The Wānaka address heavily influenced material choices and construction detailing. “It made us choose durable, earthy materials that weather over time and blend into the area,” Bradley says. Those decisions included using schist, vertical ship-lapped weatherboard from James Hardie, Colorsteel, and stone veneer cladding. Environmental performance was another key consideration, with Wānaka’s hot summers and cold winters requiring a considered approach to heating and cooling. “The climate necessitated high-performance insulation, and using the right glazing in the right areas to keep the warmth in the house,” Bradley says. A timber screen over the dining-area windows helps manage north-facing sun, while maintaining strong visual connection to the alpine outlook. Outdoor living also played a central role in design. “We have a large, first-floor deck, which allows for all-year-round entertainment,” Bradley says. “The family can be out there on the deck, taking in all the amazing views.” Bradley runs the practice as a sole operator, focusing primarily on residential work, including new builds, renovations and extensions, alongside small commercial projects. He says collaboration with clients and builders remains central to his process, particularly when translating ideas into lived spaces. “The best results come from a shared vision,” he says. “I like to make the project feel personal and the client can imagine living in the home in the early stages.” Innovative use of 3D modeling helps achieve this, and Bradley says a good floor plan is the “backbone of a well-designed home”. “It shapes how spaces connect and how you move through them every day. “A smart layout places rooms where they function best – living areas for connection, bedrooms for quiet. “Even small decisions, like adding a kitchen island or a separate office, can significantly improve daily life.” Bradley says the aim is always to create homes that reflect the people living in them, rather than impose a fixed way of living. “A home should feel personal. Elements like rooflines, windows and proportions all influence its character.” He says good design goes beyond how a home looks, to how it feels to live in. “Getting that balance right between form and function is something I really enjoy.”
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