Use

6 September 2007

Blue Pacific Beach House

Nestled amongst sand dunes and with the sound of ocean waves breaking close by, Blue Pacific Beach House designed by Andrew Sexton Architecture compliments the surrounding coastal environment with the use of timber to create a warm and natural exterior finish.

Blue Pacific Beach House is a creative modern twist on the New Zealand bach, and the house uses a combination of timber very effectively for both the exterior and the interior.

www.andrewsexton.co.nz

Fale Pasifika

Photograph: Patrick Reynolds

Designed by Jasmax Architects, Fale Pasifika is an example of excellent wood-use in a public building.

Fale Pasifika is the focus of the University of Auckland’s Pacific Studies Development, the form and purpose of the building mirror a traditional Samoan fale.

The structural arrangement of the space is based on traditional Samoan building practices. The fale is designed to accommodate 300 people, whilst also observing customary seating arrangements for hosts and guests.

New Zealand pine has been incorporated into the building’s design. Columns, beams, rafters and purlins are all of rounded timber. Curved members such as rafters and purlins at the curved ends of the building are laminated, with all straight members being of solid timber.

For more information on Jasmax and their projects, please refer to their website:

http://www.jasmax.com

Tsunami Apartments

Tsunami Apartments in Mt Maunganui are an example of innovative and attractive exterior wood use in a multi-residential environment. The apartments are three storeys in height, with a macrocarpa timber weather screen façade.

Peddle Thorp Architects used the natural weathering and durability of the heart macrocarpa to suggest New Zealand coastal imagery and the ideal of the iconic New Zealand bach.

The Tsunami apartments received a Regional Award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2006.

http://www.peddlethorpe.co.nz

Ruth Rocker and Coral

These designs by David Trubridge demonstrate the true beauty and versatility of wood as a design material. Wood has been used in a unique and elegant way to modernise two everyday furniture items – a chair and a lightshade with an elegant conceptual design.

http://www.davidtrubridge.com