A Long Bay farewell
The exterior Lunawood is coated with Scumble Nightfall oil, adding depth and long-lasting protection.
Lunawood (JSC TMT Taiga) is thermally modified timber, boasting a beautiful rustic charm and enduring nature.
Lunawood (JSC TMT Taiga) is thermally modified timber, boasting a beautiful rustic charm and enduring nature.
An entertainer’s dream with monochromatic textures that create ever-changing character throughout the day and night.
An entertainer’s dream with monochromatic textures that create ever-changing character throughout the day and night.
Partner Content: After almost 15 years in business, husband and wife team Adam and Michelle Leonard moved to the South Island with their young family for new adventures and careers.
Their last Auckland project — an eye-catching North Shore home — is an outstanding testimony to their careers together and a prime example of how architecture and design can come together to create an ultimate living space.
Owners Jason and Pauline Stockill wanted a monochromatic palette, privacy and a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, with entertainment areas for friends and family and a mancave that is the envy of the Shore. More than that, Jason and Pauline wanted a low-maintenance home to dovetail in with their busy work and social lives.
With that in mind, Michelle began investigating a mix of exterior cladding options to deliver a minimalist, modern look together with ease of maintenance and longevity.
“Cedar is an obvious natural option but it requires lots of care and regular oiling or staining to maintain,” says Michelle. “Whereas thermally modified timber like Lunawood (JSC TMT Taiga) delivers beautiful, natural, rustic characteristics and the oil treatment gives it a long-lasting protection. It was also surprisingly competitive.”
Supplied by PlaceMakers, Lunawood is chemical-free and the thermal modification process gives it a rich, brown tone. It is imported from Europe and profiled locally by JSC to New Zealand-approved profiles. Its unique personality is further enhanced by the distinct oval-shaped ‘butterfly knots’ — something that caught Michelle’s designer eye.
“The butterflies are quite special and work really well with the dark tones,” says Michelle. “We chose the Scumble Nightfall oil coating because it gave us the depth of colour we needed.”
But Michelle didn’t only consider Lunawood for the exterior; she amplified the interior cathedral ceiling by using the dark-stained Lunawood on a feature wall. This continuation brings the natural textures indoors and blends in seamlessly with the TV, fireplace and oak stairs.
The combination of the dark-stained vertical Taiga cladding, white bevelback cladding and clean-white, plastered-finish walls created the monochrome effect the clients wanted, and the home stands out beautifully against the green backdrop of the Long Bay Reserve.
From every angle, the exterior is a stunning composition of considered design and attention to detail. Call it a ‘last hurrah’ or a swan song but this entertainer’s paradise now stands as testimony to the collaboration between a builder and an architect who just happen to be forging new chapters together in southern lands.
For more information, visit: www.placemakers.co.nz/online/projects/cladding
This content has been created with support from PlaceMakers. ArchitectureNow works with a range of partners in the A&D supply sector to create and/or source appropriate content for this website and Architecture NZ magazine.
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