JACK HOUSE

SUMNER, CHRISTCHURCH

Nestled into the hillside of an east coast suburb, Sumner, the Jack home was designed to capture the sun drenched site and make the most of the natural landscape. 

The parameters of steep topography made for a challenging site. Essentially the build platform was a pure rectangle - our goal was to create a home with limited disturbance to the ground, creating a floating skeletal frame with uninterrupted views. 

We crafted a home that created a sense of relaxation. A day can start at sunrise with a cup of tea in her sunny nook and at night a cosy home with a roaring fire, night sky views with twinkling city lights in the distance. The cedar creates a constant sense of warmth in the home no matter what time of day. The connection to ‘our place’ was at a dominant narrative - resulting in a movable glass wall recessing back into a pocket helping ensure the connection to place, the ocean and nature was constant.  

The design of this house respected the surroundings and hill it was on. There was a sense of truth to every material used. A challenging build on a challenging site only enhanced the beauty of this property. An uncomplicated piece of architecture nestled in an outstanding part of our country.

Photography: Jamie Cobel Photography