On a rural property south of Auckland city sits a contemporary barn-like structure designed by architect Jann Hurley. At home in its surroundings, the building is at once familiar yet also exhibits an edginess that sets it apart from its purely agricultural counterparts.

Inside, one might expect to see an updated rustic aesthetic, so the pared-back industrial interior comes as a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. Exposed steel beams, gleaming stainless steel and a polished concrete floor punctuate the open-plan living area.

“The clients wanted the architecture to be simple and honest, which has translated into a palette that focusses on uncomplicated, authentic materials,” says Hurley.

Materials that also find their way into the kitchen, situated in the southeast corner of the plan.

“The view is to the west so the kitchen has been placed at the rear of the property to ensure the living area gets full advantage of the vista. A large, full-height window on the south side and a smaller one to the north ensure that natural light is plentiful,” says Hurley.

“Initially, the stairs were positioned along the back wall but were moved when it became apparent that that was not the best use of the space. The laundry, which originally was in the garage, was repositioned to an area behind the kitchen, with a similarly sized space created for a dedicated scullery.”

Moving the stairs had the additional benefit of freeing up the back wall for appliances, creating a proper kitchen space in the living area, while maintaining a sleek, open feel.

“For me,” says Hurley, “the best feature of the space is that the scullery, kitchen and laundry all work in concert without compromising the individual functions of each.”