Overview
Entrant:
JCY Architects
Category:
02. Interior Design Award
Photographed by:
Isaac Norton
Key team members:
Architect: JCY Architects
Builder: BTP Construction
Joinery: Central Joinery
Metalwork: Dart Engineering
Stone: South Island Stone
Steel Window Joinery: Steel Windows and Doors (Auckland)
Project Details:
Original apartment building built circa 2005 / 2006.
Block of 6 apartments essentially concrete & steel structure (with timber partition internal walls).
Positioned high on Queenstown hill with expansive views over town of the lake and peaks.
Brief:
Strip out, re-plan, and re-fit existing apartment.
Maximise ceiling heights and expansive views.
Update of all fixtures, fittings and equipment.
Ensuite bathrooms for each bedroom.
Utilise the internal space better.
Modern ‘alpine’ aesthetic.
Warm ‘Queenstown vernacular’ materials.
Replacement of existing windows with high performance thermally broken units.
Feature fireplace wall and connection of materiality between the indoor spaces and the decks and outdoor living.
1. Species of feature timber used in this project are as follows:
Feature Ceilings & Walls: 10 x 40 walnut battens with 10mm negative details between. walnut veneer on MDF with walnut battens.
Joinery: Walnut veneer on MDF.
Doors: Solid core western red cedar (stained to match walnut).
Floors: Engineered oak plank flooring (stained mid peat brown).
2. Unique aspects of the chosen timber.
Walnut (veneer and solid battens) were chosen for the richness, warmth, and movement of the grain. The darks and lights of this species add additional richness to the aesthetic. The use of the walnut through the ceilings, walls in both battening and paneling provides a variation of texture and connects with its use in the joinery veneers.
The western red cedar solid doors were chosen to tie into the grain featuring of the walnut to provide a continuity of richness to the aesthetic.
The ‘peat’ stained engineered oak timber floor was included as a natural deeper backdrop tone to offset the richness of the walnut.
3. Expression of Cultural / Heritage Values.
Architecture in New Zealand is steeped in timber tradition. Queenstown’s vernacular architectural materials include timber, schist stone, and (raw) corrugated iron. These are the materials that were available or easily carted into the mountains for the use of the early pioneers, and gold miners to build their cribs in the Wakatipu basin.
Timber and Detail:
In this project timber becomes the ‘hero’. Its warmth, movement and tactility are then combined with largely neutral white and off-white walls, tiles carpets etc. Highlights of blackened and raw steel and natural schist wall features are included and tie the interior to the exterior schist walls and piers of the deck.
Timber has been used for its ease of detailing, versatility, workability and tactility. The differentiation between the tactility of the battened walls and ceilings and the smooth paneled nature of the veneered product provides a contrast which adds to the richness of the overall effect.
The detailing of the timber battens, architraves, panels and their grid of battens etc. was simply carried out as the timber can be cut to shape and worked. In combination with good lighting design these timber details are highlighted. The design is clean simple modern and beautifully detailed with a warmth and tactility from the timbers.