Palm springs papamoa

Diane Berghan, Josh Hepi, their two boys, Kaius (11) and Kahn (10) and their cavoodle puppy, Haiku are an active, outdoorsy family. “We love travelling, so a simple low-maintenance home was important to us. Somewhere we could lock up, head away on adventures and always enjoy coming back to,” says Diane.

“As soon as we secured the section, I went to the library and checked out the maximum number of books on architecture and design. I wanted to understand everything so we could make intentional choices. From the first meeting Arkhē Architecture just got it. Aside from being incredibly talented, they’re also practical. They helped refine our ideas without ever losing the feeling we were aiming for,” says Diane.

“The clients brought forward a rich tapestry of precedents, but their mood board predominantly displayed contemporary Australian coastal architecture from the Byron Bay area. They favoured neutral colour palettes and textural accents and relaxed spatial arrangement,” says architectural designer Diego Marangoni of Arkhē Architecture. The brief called for 3 bedrooms, a home office and open living with a fluid connection to outdoor living spaces and a pool area. They also wanted to bring multiple functionalities to the garage.

The south-facing façade is subdued and private, with a recessed timber clad entrance, that adds interest from the street. The plan is “L” shaped, with the kids’ bedrooms along the east, separated from the main bedroom by the open living space and its adjacent eastern and western decks. The garage is a thoughtfully designed, multipurpose area divided in half by a secret door. The street facing side provides storage for bikes, surfboards and other lifestyle related objects. The courtyard and pool facing half is a media room, that expands into a louvred deck and barbecue area.

“With two young boys the pool was nonnegotiable,” says Diane. “We wanted the home to feel a bit like a holiday, somewhere the kids could swim after school and where we could sit outside with a drink and unwind. So many of our memories are centered on the pool area, birthday parties and get togethers. In the summer especially, the whole house opens up and everyone just gravitates outside. We usually gather around the kitchen island, kids disappear to the pool and little pockets of conversation pop up around the place. It’s simple and relaxed.”

The clay brick exterior is painted in the warm shade of Dulux Cardrona. The north and western faces of the home are clad in Abodo Vulcan vertical weatherboards painted in the same warm white. The timber entrance and vertical screening are clad in Rosenfeld Kidson Siberian larch. This was chosen for its pale yellow-white tones and coated in Dryden stain in the subdued natural tone of Dune. Inside, the timber ceiling above the open plan kitchen, dining and living space is a nod to the homes’ mid-century inspiration. Lined in Western Hemlock timber, the ceiling brings texture and warmth paired with walls in Dulux Okarito.

“The homeowners were crucial in many successful moves in the design and build process,” says Diego. “Diane was amazing with the interiors, materials and fittings. Josh was hands on with the build, working incredibly hard throughout the process with an amazing attention to detail.” The ensuite tiles, chosen by Diane are Magma in Coral Pink from Spain. These square small format tiles have a subtle variation in tones, reminiscing in the coastal theme whilst playing with the midcentury modern aesthetic.

Arkhē Architecture has an ongoing partnership with Liv Light who designed a beautiful and cohesive lighting scheme for this home. In the living areas, LED strips are set in along the timber ceiling, creating an elegant feature.

The design takes a primarily passive approach to ventilation, with well-placed opening windows to maximise airflow whilst mitigating the risk of excessive heat gains. A mechanical ventilation system ensures thermal comfort throughout the year.

“The clients were a crucial part of the project success, bringing amazing ideas and solutions throughout the project. This was a truly collaborative design and build,” says Diego. “It was a very much a DIY family and friends project,” says Diane. “Josh’s brother Luke came up from Wellington with a team to build the frames.

My brother Lloyd supplied the roof. My godfather supplied and installed the extractor fans and my godson pitched in with the landscaping. Friends helped with the slab, brick work and electrical. There were only a very small handful of trades that weren’t friends or family.” Once the build was underway, Josh juggled a fulltime job with big days on site, supported by Diane and her father. “My Dad was also on site every day to help Josh,” says Diane. “That time ended up being incredibly special to us, as he passed away earlier this year.”

This coastal design has received two Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) awards for Interiors Regional Awards for best home up to 300m2 as well as being a National Finalist. It was also a Finalist in the Residential Category for the prestigious Best Awards.

“I think this is a testament to the project success and importantly, that thoughtful and award-winning architecture doesn’t have be ostensibly expensive,” says Diego.

The family loves the sense of calm in their new house. “It’s a peaceful home to wake up in, and it feels purpose built for us, how we live and who we are,” says Diane. “I love that even though it’s a small home, there are plenty of little spaces to read, play guitar, work, chat or enjoy your coffee. It’s been three years since we finished the build and it’s still bringing us joy every day.”

Contact details:

Arkhē Arhitecture
027 544 3011
diego@arkhe.co.nz
www.arkhe.co.nz