Karapiro House.

 

Site

Lake Karapiro, Waikato

COMPLETED

2015

Team

Brooke Cholmondeley-Smith

 

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This special home was designed for the owners to reflect their unique lifestyle, passion for rowing and water sport, and stunning Karapiro lake-side location. The design positions a series of pavilions orientated towards the lake front. The project is designed to be a timeless within the this unique landscape and environment.

The pavilions allow the home to be occupied by the couple within the main living pavilions, and when family come to spend time the home works as a series of living spaces so that the family can come-together, but still enjoy their privacy to allow for extended periods of multigenerational occupation. The layout and position of the home connects to the lake setting from multiple spaces, while providing privacy from the lake users, but maximising the views from the home.

The home takes advantage of passive solar techniques, with our Fabric-first approach, and thermal mass and bridging being a large focus for the design team. The vineyard has been developed by the owners, with it adding a further sense of permanence to the project.

 
 

Project Details.

 

Architectural:

— Design
— Full Architectural Plans
— Full consent Package
— Co-ordinated and managed consultants
— Kitchen, Bathroom, Ensuite Design

 

Consultants:

— Geotechnical Engineers
— Structural Engineers
— Interior Designers
— Lighting Designer
— Construction Manager
— Landscape Designer and Contractor

 

INTERIORS:

— Kitchen, Bathrooms and Master Ensuite

 

“We engaged Brooke to design a house that was befitting the property we owned on Lake Karapiro. Sue and I had some ideas, concepts and Brooke immediately shared our vision and created a simple but very elegant pavilion styled Lake House.

The house design is about maximizing living, taking advantage of the setting and with extensive indoor/outdoor spaces giving many options of either a roaring fire in the winter or lounging on the deck watching the sun set to the west during the long summer evenings

The separation of pavilions 3&4 allows for privacy when guests are staying and or when the family return for holidays. This is a highlight of good design. The house readily expands and contracts to the number of people in residence at any one time.

The material used in construction are again simple and elegant with polished concrete floors internally, to the extra large cedar weatherboards that create a rich warm ambiance to the house.

Brooke was responsive throughout the entire project and we still enjoy his input to how we structure the Vineyard and Gardens, creating spaces in sympathy to the house though also as an extension to the house.

We truly enjoy our house or "Lake House", as it creates a sense that we are on holiday every day of our lives.”

- Nick Dromgool (KARAPIRO HOUSE)