Architectural Home in Sumner
Located at the top of Clifton Hill in Sumner, Christchurch, this home was built to maximise the incredible 360 degree views of the Pacific Ocean and Port Hills.
LM Architectural Builders’ managing director, Leo Meredith, was engaged to consult on this project from the outset. The client was looking for a sunny, protected site with beautiful water views. Leo visited potential sites and found a section that ticked the boxes and met the budget.
The client favoured architecture with bold colours, angles, and a touch of quirkiness. Don Roy of Site Architecture , was awarded the job.
Don’s design captures the stunning views of the ocean. The house includes intimate spaces that are protected from the wind, extended window shrouds, pops of colour, and design features that bring an element of surprise to the home.
The custom-made metal balustrade in the entrance way features panels with randomly placed dividers. The internal pivot door design enables doors to sit flush with the wall, eliminating door jams. Blinds tuck into recesses concealed within the walls to allow an uninterrupted view of the sea beyond. An Abodo timber wall includes concealed storage to maximise the house’s modest 240sqm footprint.
This house is effectively a series of boxes stacked on top of each other that are cut into the hillside. With a concrete base and a timber upper structure and odd angles throughout, the build required careful thought and detailed workmanship – not to mention a lot of structural steel.
The inground spotlights in the entrance way needed to be in place in the concrete before the slab was poured. There was no room for error once the pour was underway, but it came together perfectly, with the lights beautifully highlighting the Abodo timber wall.
We worked with the client and found cost-effective solutions to ease the impact of rising material costs post Covid.
With solar panels on the roof and underfloor hydronic heating to minimise power bills, this home is energy efficient, sunny and unique. The Sumner project is a great example of our team’s ability to deliver complex, technically demanding builds on challenging hillside sites in Christchurch.
