Leigh Harbour house wins national award for architecture from NZIA
The New Zealand Architecture award, from the NZ Institute of Architects recognises outstanding new architecture within this country. The Leigh Harbour house, designed by Tennent + Brown Architects, was inspired heavily by the context of the site, which is placed above greywacke/argillite cliffs on the coastline.The architect intended the house to read as sliding forms (akin to geological strata) emerging from the cliffs. The house features beautiful timber work and joinery, and an interesting progression of spaces (the house unfolds as one moves through it, and reveals some surprising spaces).
O2 Landscapes has been fortunate to make gardens for several architecturally exciting projects over previous years (including the Hotwater Beach house, by Stevens Lawson Architects, which also won a New Zealand Architecture award in 2007). The garden at Leigh Harbour includes large sections of traditional drystone walls (constructed from local greywacke/argillite), a rusted steel rod dog fence, and a considerable amount of specialised concrete work (including the concrete 'decking plank' units, which lead to the front door). The award received by the architects is also a tribute to the clients, who were amongst the most forward-looking and stimulating clients we have ever dealt with.