A couple with two teenage children bought a faux castle named 'Stone Manor' on the edge of Lake Pupuke and approached us with the intent of a radical transformation.

Situated back from the lack, the existing house was well within the yard setback required by the district plan. It opened the opportunity to utilise the existing footprint and roof form, making the transformation appear minor on paper. The existing curved form of a stone wall burrowed out to enable a new garage underneath the house. Emphasis on the curve by a  380mm rolled steel beam forms a structural edge to a series of opening louvre roofs, extending the house's liveability.

The alteration was to provide a sanctuary close to the city. The dwelling capitalises on the incredible position by the lake while screening the suburban backdrop. To enhance the connection to the lake from the dwelling, portions of existing walls were removed, and the reconfiguration of the floor plan better suited the family's needs. The client and the architect shared an affinity for a Balinese aesthetic, providing a framework for decisions relating to materiality.