01: DESIGN DEAKIN HOUSE
LOCATION DEAKIN, CANBERRA
Challenged by illness, which forced them to
give up their residence of the past 15 years,
homeowners Bill and Barb Coyle gracefully
accepted the need for a diff erent architectural
style in their new abode. Calling on the expertise
of a local architect — who designed a t-shapedhouse reminiscent of a barn with a big, sloping
roof — the Coyles bravely ploughed forth on
their new construction journey. With Bill’s health
condition at the forefront of their needs list, the
new house was designed with more than a passing
nod to the architecture of the ‘70s and included
spaces that are wide and easy to navigate in a
wheelchair. While the task of marrying practicalitywith design is never easy, the Coyles, who were
not willing to compromise their vision, stuck by
their guns — even when the architect quit over
‘creative diff erences’ — and came away with a
home that not only refl ects the aesthetics of the
residents, but also serves their needs perfectly.
Builder Emmadale Builders
(emmadalegroup.com)
Photography Nick Wilson02: DESIGN CLIFFTOP HOUSE
LOCATION HILLSBOROUGH
When the Divetts subdivided their land, they
wanted a new home on the site that would take
them up into the treetops and make the most
of the spectacular views of Mangere Mountain.
“We loved the mid-century aesthetic with no
ostentation or weird angles,” says homeowner
Hamish Divett of their preferred style. They
found the architect who could give them that in
Tim Dorrington of Box Living. When faced with
the challenging site with a steep incline, Tim got
right into the thick of things by climbing ladders
across the site so he could get a real feel for the
land and its surroundings. The resulting ‘pole’
house of post-and-beam construction makes
the most of the view, and provides the satisfi ed
homeowners with exactly what they need to
entertain family and friends among the trees.
Architect/Builder Tim Dorrington, Box Living
(boxliving.co.nz)
Photography Emma-Jane Hetherington01
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ARCHITECTURE
PROJECTS
(^) // ARCHITECTURE