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Inner sanctum

Words Claire Chapman (Home Magazine)
Images Rick Bennetts (RS Studio)

These new inner Christchurch townhouses present a series of sumptuous spaces for the design conscious. Wrapped in brick juxtaposed with vertical timber and set in park-like surrounds of mature trees and lush gardens, these are homes where connection to the landscape is as effortlessly considered as the elegant tactility of the interior material palette.

Full height glazing, designer Italian kitchens and delightfully detailed exterior spaces combine to create an enviable contemporary setting for a life well lived.

City Base
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These strikingly elegant townhomespresent an alluring addition to the Fendalton streetscape. Wrapped in light beige Roman brick with warm brown vertical timber accents, the arresting rectilinear forms deliver a crisp, contemporary aesthetic.Rooftop planters above the garages allows plants to trail down the street-facing facade, while the upper storey is stacked above; a smaller form floating within the canopy of surrounding mature trees.

The spacious, three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes each include a separate study, double garage and expansive private outdoor living.

Envisioned as low-maintenance lock-and-leave abodes, these homes for the design conscious present an enviable base for a contemporary urban lifestyle in the Garden City. As architect Case Ornsby explains it:

“The starting point of the design ethos for these homes was informed through acknowledgment of the suburban context of the site. The historical and contemporary homes lining the surrounding streets contribute to a sense of permanence. My aim was to maintain this sense by presenting an image of unified solidity to the street, which upon entry to each dwelling gives way to a light-filled, courtyard-facing refuge. These homes are designed with a focus on proportion, privacy and access to sunlight.”
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Borrowed landscapes
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Bordering Hagley Park, the verdant greenery of the vast public space is framed from the upper levels, while elegant planting creates an organic transition between park and garden. Cascading greenery trails from planters formed into deep set window frames on the upper storey; immaculately landscaped gardens incorporate sheltered alfresco cooking and dining areas and strong connections to the natural environment – both immediate and within the wider context.
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Italian inspiration
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With designer Italian kitchens at the heart of these homes, the interiors are decadent affairs of beautifully considered spaces where tactility and elegance present an understated luxury.

Open-plan living and dining spaces extend from the kitchen, framed by full-height glazing opening onto immaculately manicured private alfresco living areas. Large format tiles wrap the bathroom floors and walls; sculptural freestanding baths are set against floating vanities.

Bedrooms are spacious retreats where full height glazing, Juliet balconies and external louvres allow for intricately modulated views and privacy.
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Courtyard dining

Wrapping the lower level in an L-shaped plan, the alfresco areas are immersive extensions of the refined interior aesthetic. Defined by the tactility of the exterior brick set against dark joinery, these are tranquil entertaining spaces with a European feel that capture the sun throughout the day. As evening beckons, light and shadow further accentuate the sculptural facades and delightful tactility of the brick.

The perfect balance between urbanity and privacy, these homes are sumptuous dwellings of contemporary architectural excellence that form an important part of Christchurch’s evolving residential vernacular.