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| Nordt House |
| A spectacular home perched on the cliffs above Christchurch, New Zealand. |
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Perched on the cliffs surrounding Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand, is the home of Rudolf and Christiane Nordt. With its bright yellow walls and curved roof, the house is hard to miss. And with views of Pegasus Bay, Sumner Village and the Scarborough hills, the location is eye-catching too.
Rudolf Nordt bought this Christchurch property in 1986. The original house had been renovated and remodelled many times over the years so in 1996 he decided to give renovating the flick and start from scratch.
Rudolf and his wife Christiane worked closely with architect Thom Craig from Modern Architecture Partners. Together, they designed a house that looks modern, but uses traditional building materials like timber and brick. The frame is constructed from untreated timber and glass fibre rods. The exterior is brick veneer which has been rendered with a non-chemical plaster and painted yellow and grey with bio-paint. Inside, the walls are insulated with 100% wool and all the floors come from commercially grown eucalypt trees.
The house consists of a series of pavilions, each with a curved roof. The first two pavilions are joined by a glass atrium, which allows access between the two living areas. The third pavilion was added recently and sits between the two floors.
The ground floor consists of the bedrooms, bathroom and family room. These were deliberately located downstairs so that the rooms that would benefit most from the view could be upstairs.
Upstairs, the first pavilion houses the kitchen, which is stainless steel and open plan. The second pavilion houses the living room, which boasts a grand piano and 12-seat dining table.
Between these two pavilions and on the upper level is the atrium, which has glass walls and a glass roof that can be opened and closed. The area is renowned for its strong N/E winds, so the atrium is designed in such a way that the walls can be closed to block the wind, while the roof is open to let warmth from the sun. On a still day, the entire area can be opened to form a patio.
The newly added third pavilion sits on the roof of a 10m long garage. This area consists of a new master bedroom, ensuite, dressing room and private balcony. This pavilion was added to make room for the Nordt's growing family, with child number three on the way. On the roof of this new pavilion is a terrace, which is accessed by external stairs.
The house is environmentally friendly, with the water recycled for use in the laundry, garden and toilets. During winter, the house is warmed by a fire built into the glass wall. There is also a swimming pool, which stretches from the house towards the sea. In addition to the main house, there is a guest house on the property for when the family's German relatives visit.
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More Info
For more information on Nordt House contact the architect, Thom Craig.
Modern Architecture Partners (MAP)
105 Victoria Street
Christchurch
New Zealand
Ph: +64 3 962 6530
E-mail: tc@modarch.co.nz
www.modarch.co.nz
For more information on New Zealand contact Tourism New Zealand.
Ph: 02 9728 5801
www.purenz.com
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Disclaimer
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