Design HQ
Project Location:
Blenheim Riverside
Categories:
Commercial Architectural Excellence
Project Description:
This project was for the design of a café on a prominent riverfront location in the heart of Blenheim. The triangular shaped site is rich with history, having been the former site of the Council aviary and sitting opposite Blenheim’s first place of business, the Raupo store which was operated by James Wynen for riverside trading, approximately 150 years prior. The site was constrained by the location of major service lines which along with the triangular shape of the site defined the exterior envelope of the building. As the site was the subject of a lease from the local district council, it was desired by the clients to ensure the project was as ecologically sustainable as possible, and reflective of the province of Marlborough.
The client’s brief was to design a building that was “chunky and solid, that looked like it could have been there forever”. Our solution was to utilize large section timbers to highlight the structure of the building and make this an integral part of the overall impression of the building. 350 x 350 Rough Sawn Radiata Pine columns and beams were utilized in a series of portal structures to form the main structure of the building. These were highlighted by the insertion of windows between and panels of local riverstone veneer. The main entrance is defined by panels of battened plywood, with handcrafted oak doors to the entrance of the café and traiteur. Internally, matai flooring, recycled from the recently demolished RSA, was utilized throughout the main dining area. The portal structure of the café is carried through to the exterior dining area with smaller section Rough Sawn Radiata Pine posts and beams forming a covered pergola following the slight concave arc of the riverside façade of the building.
The extensive use of timber throughout this building has resulted in a building which gives a real feeling of strength and character and provides a warm and inviting environment.