The Brief

The Brief

We have decided this build that we are going to use an architect to help us design our new home.

One very useful resource has been the website of NZ Institute of Architects (http://talktoanarchitect.co.nz).
It gave us the framework for writing a brief... 

Here is some of the information that we gave to three architects to start the conversation to see if they were interested in us... and we in them…

About Us

As a family, we consider ourselves to be eco-aware, creative, book readers, gardeners (things we can eat), cooks, design-conscious.

We are building a new home because we have lots of ideas that wouldn’t fit into the first home that we built (and designed ourselves). We want the opportunity to work with an architect who will hopefully offer us creative solutions and stretch our ideas. We don’t want to play it too safe, design-wise. We would want to build the house ourselves, using our construction business and its sub-contractors.

We love this area. It’s a great community and we have work and lots of friends here. We have bought an acre section near our existing home that we hope will give us outside space, a north facing aspect and external and internal privacy.

Here are some images we like:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, California http://www.bcj.com/public/projects/project/102.html

MW Works Architecture, Washington

http://www.mwworks.com/Projects/Case-Inlet.php

Crosson Clarke Carnachan, Whangapoua

http://ccca.co.nz/projects/hut-on-sleds

Pekapeka house

Patersonson architects

http://www.p-a.co.nz/pekapeka%20house/pekapeka%20house.htm

Howe House by R.M. Schindler, 1925

Olsen Kundig Architects, Seattle

http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/46/The-Brain

Home is a refuge from the busy world, relaxation, somewhere to plan new projects/ overseas trips. Somewhere warm, comfortable, beautiful and functional. No bling/artificiality, but very stylish. Our new space should be casual, welcoming, light, modest, edgy (industrial), with private space and family/entertaining space. We would also like some ideas for hard landscaping around the house, and how the house may fit into the wider landscape.

We currently have an orchard, garage/workshop, timber store, art studio, sleepout and a modest 3-bed house.

Specifics: Likes and Dislikes

We like board-formed concrete, painted brick, steel windows with glazing bars, natural materials (timber, wood, stone), timber weatherboards, board and batten, negative detailing, modernist styling, reclaimed materials, Lifemark principles and exterior finishes used inside.

We like Art Deco and 50s Californian design.

We dislike fake materials (plastic trying to be wood, concrete trying to be tiles, etc).