74 | ARCHITECTURE Anna-Marie Chin Architects T T Kim Newth Arrowtown practice repeats success The clever design breaks up the scale of the building and allows the site to breathe. Having won two Southern Architecture Awards in 2023, Arrowtown’s Anna-Marie Chin Architects Ltd has done it again by winning two more awards at this year’s regional architecture awards. These awards honour the very best new architecture in NZIA’s southern region. “It is a rare achievement to win two awards like this back to back in consecutive years,” agrees Anna-Marie Chin, who leads a creative team of seven. “It is a privilege for us to be recognised for our work. It acknowledges the practice and how everyone in our team strives to achieve the best for the client, creating spaces that suit them, their aspirations and how they live.” Their latest award winning projects are a stunning Alexandra home designed for a bare rock site (‘Alexandra Rock House’) and a strategically positioned Gibbston Valley holiday home (‘Vineyard House’). Creating something special and unique starts with a client who is prepared to invest in an architect. Anna-Marie is thankful for the respective clients who gave them this award winning opportunity. “They came with us to the awards’ night in Invercargill and we had such a lovely evening. They are thrilled that their homes have been recognised in this way.” Anna-Marie Chin Architects has a consistent track record for creating beautiful, often simple buildings that sit at ease within the majestic landscapes of Queenstown and Central Otago. “We always start by looking at the site and what the client wants to achieve. We then seek to bring these together, creating inspiring architecture for the client in the context of that land. Every site is chosen for a reason – the place will mean something to them – and sites here all have spectacular views too. Our design approach naturally responds to that and to the texture, space and surrounding land forms.” In the case of the Alexandra Rock House, the clients wanted a home that would reflect their strong personal connections with the area. The long and narrow site they chose is high on the hill above Alexandra, facing east to the Hawkdun Range and west to the Remarkables. “The clients wanted that view but also wanted a home that would work with their rocky site. In fact, the site is all rock - it’s unique. While we knew this exposed rock would be a key feature, we had to consider how much we were prepared to disturb it. We ultimately decided to tread lightly on the rock.” The design solution was to elevate box forms above the exposed rock, with linking structures between them that allow shafts of light to shine through to the rock below. The box forms sit above the rock on steel stilts or poles. Squares were cut out of the rock and concrete poured into the holes to create anchor points, secured in place with steel plates. The clever design breaks up the scale of the building and allows the site to breathe. There are two-storey elements within the home – including the main living area and main bedroom – with two private guest suites below the house having a closer interlocking connection with the rock. With interior spaces arranged around views of the rocks below and sweeping vistas beyond, the tenuous nature of the site is accentuated. Ussher Green Building constructed this stunning home on site. Anna-Marie Chin Architects’ other award winning project is a contemporary, low maintenance home with a simple T-shaped form, designed to beautifully capture gorge, mountain and vineyard views. Clad in corten steel, the home rests on the edge of the gully looking at Nevis Bluff and is nestled in the vines, in harmony with the landscape. Lakes Building Company were the builders for Vineyard House. P: (03) 445 0305 16 Wolter Cres, Cromwell E: central@designwindows.co.nz W: www.designwindows.co.nz Proud to support Anna-Marie Chin Architects Proudly supporting Anna-Marie Chin Architects 03 448 8832 11 Ngapara St, Alexandra www.wedgerwood.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=