Bungalow 2.0 - Christchurch, New Zealand

Designed to embody the ethos of “build less, choose well”, the home for a young family packs a lot of punch within its 72 square metres. Designed by Studio Now on a 200m2 site, the plan maximises floor area without compromising on outdoor living space, with small gains won from minute details, explains Director Ben Comber.

“We were working with significant restraints on the buildable footprint,” he says. “There is no wall framing on the back of the laundry – with a fixed joinery panel used instead – and this resulted in a 100mm space saving that really unlocked the entire floor plan.”

To comply with local district plan rules, Bungalow 2.0 makes use of a 7.5m wide gable form. A hip roof line was opted for on the North East elevation to allow for a reduced boundary setback on this side of the home, with the courtyard formed by removing half of the hip end.

Calculations on the home’s upfront embodied carbon come out as at a very low 13 tonnes, excluding sequestered carbon savings. This is in part due to the use of sustainable materials like the Abodo's carbon storing Vulcan products, as well as the home’s suspended timber floor structure, insulated thermal envelope and cross ventilation features.

Materials were chosen for their detail and texture as well as their sustainability credentials, which meant focusing on locally sourced products and materials. Abodo Vulcan® Cladding in a WB10 profile with a bandsawn finish was installed horizontally on the exterior of the building and coated in Protector™ - Patina, while Vulcan Smooth Decking was chosen for the entrance deck and steps. This was dressed on four sides in low-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), water-borne Protector - Clear.

Offset windows create a sense of whimsy on the western side of the home, while shiplap cladding cascades from the pale roofing on the eastern elevation.

Although the gabled form of the home is traditional in nature, the home is modernised through attention to detail, with creativity exercised through resourceful design solutions. One example is the CNC grooved wardrobe fronts in the bedrooms, which are coated with enamel interior paint. Interiors pop with brass fittings, joinery in shades of green, and herringbone flooring accentuated by warm ply ceilings. A fun loft ladder accesses storage and study space overhead.

Drawing inspiration from Japanese architecture, the entrance is sheltered by a sculptural verandah, with every centimeter of space carefully utilised. Demonstrating the enduring nature of the bungalow form, this is a thoughtfully designed home that provides for the changing needs of a modern family.

About Studio Now - Ben Comber

A love for the mountains and passion for the outdoors led Studio Now Director Ben Comber to reassess his work in high-end architecture and establish an approach where energy efficiency and sustainability leads the way.

The founding principles of Studio Now are Nature, Objects, and Wellness, with the logo showing the three letters ‘N, O, W’ arranged in an equilateral triangle to represent the studio’s quest for holistic balance between the three principles, in order to achieve healthy, sustainable architecture.

“Only the equilateral triangle gives us the idea of perfect harmony because it expresses the agreement between the three principles, where none is developed at the expense of the others,” says Ben. “Architecture should exude simplicity and sustainability, ensuring that buildings respect and enhance our natural environment.”

Studio Now puts this into practice by paying close attention to the selection of low VOC, natural and locally grown materials, as well as carefully orienting homes for optimal solar gain and ventilation. Each structure is protected by a thermally efficient envelope to reduce carbon use and improve performance. The practice also ensures each home has a connection to the natural world outside its windows, with the aim of improving health and wellbeing for residents.

Ben admits he would be content to solely create isolated cabins in the wilderness – something he has proven to be very successful at with the multi-award winning Kereru Retreat and Adventure Whare – but he enjoys the variety and challenge of working to a range of scales, with current projects ranging in size from 35m2 to over 400m2.

“I’m a creative at heart but my mind is obsessive when it comes to the technical aspect that architecture demands. I believe that a building must enhance its surroundings through a thoughtful design process that is unique to the context of the site, climate and user. I resolve projects through a refinement process of conceptual ideas within these parameters,” he says.

With snowlines rising and winters shortening, Studio Now is on a mission to protect what we have left by creating homes that tread lightly on the planet, to ensure the mountains remain a year-round playground for adventure loving kiwis like Ben to enjoy.