A R C H I T E C T S
o f
A W E S O M E
Architecture is a fermentation of creative responses to perception, emotions, and context wrapped up in practical building science. We do this every day to make authentically unique and fresh design...
We know what a 'high performance building' really means. It's actually all the cool things you cant see, the things hidden in the core, designed and built-into the way it is made....
Honest materials are confident, they know where they come from and what they must do. We like to use real materials as close to raw as they can be. We know they can deliver like no other....
The difference working with a professional Registered Architect for your project is the combination of real knowledge, experience and resources available that help ensure your project is truely unique....
Urban Houses, Country Houses, Luxury Houses. Cool and stylish, rugged and earthy, tucked away or on display...we design special, unique houses for people who really care about where they are and where they want to be.
Making the city a cool place to be. Inspired development, imaginative form, beautiful space and seamless integration. Creating meaning and a real sense of urban living,working and playing for real people.
We understand apartments having designed and lived in a few. We know they can be both seriously technical and intensly satisfyng. From concept to reality we really enjoy making medium density living.
Making space work and feel right, seamlessley delivered with Style, Finish, Substance and Identity. Interior design and detail is the human interface with the building and we know how that works.
This selection of our conceptual work illustrates the variety of projects currently in the planning stages, in construction, or for one reason or another didnt get off the ground. Unbuilt work is almost as important as built work in that every new design problem generates a new solution which is added to our extensive design knowledgebase and body of work. That formidable resource is drawn upon for every new project.
The Ocean View House was featured on GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA (Series 3 Episode 8)
The story of our clients journey and how it was built is not to be missed.
OCEAN VIEW COUNTRY HOUSE is carved into the ridgeline of a mountainous rural bushland estate in Queensland Australia. Although with spectacular views, the site is subjected to extreme winds, bushfire, highly variable temperatures and limited services. The house needed to be robust, fire resistant and self-reliant including on-site water collection for both household use and firefighting, and deliver very high levels of thermal performance and energy efficiency. To meet these challenges construction is entirely of Concrete and Steel with zero-timber content. The house has two distinct personalities; a fortress-like public side and an open private side connecting with the land and a roof terrace for capturing the views. The Brutalist style architecture is infused with a Japanese 'wabi-sabi' appreciation of rawness, texture and form inside and out that reflects the local natural environment. The house delivers a pared-back, safe and very comfortable gallery for art pieces, sculpture, family gatherings, entertaining and the enjoyment of abundant life in the country.
Some images courtesy of Paul Broben Photographer/FOXTEL
As you have probably guessed, we really like working with concrete...
The limited palette of core construction materials we like to work with is concrete, structural steel, aluminium, glass, ceramics and fine timbers. Limiting choices keeps us focussed, but these materials used to their full potential allow better buildings to be built without physical constraint or structural vulnerability. And there is nothing more satisfying than the texture and quality of concrete and the living experience of an industrial strength building.
Some people think concrete construction is over the top for small buildings such as houses, but we consider a house that does not have commercial strength and quality is a little pointless.
We do love timber, but in respect for the forests and their fragile ecosystems we use timber thoughtfully, carefully and sparingly, and only in finishing work for its inherent visual beauty, texture and warmth.
Martin Chant
M.Arch, NZIA, RAIA
Registered Architect
Meredith Dobson
B.Des (Int), B.Sc (Psych), NZCPM. Interior Designer
SPARCHI (Architects of Awesome) are based in the spectacular South Island of New Zealand with a focus on creating high quality and timeless Architecture for local and international clients.
We only accept a limited number of projects at any one time to ensure our high standards and services are consistent for every client, therefore each project is considered by application only.
If you feel your project might be a good fit and would like to have it considered, then please contact Martin directly by email or phone, or by message from the form below.
P.O. Box 1810
Christchurch City, 8140
New Zealand
Email: studio@sparchi.com
Phone: +64 (0) 3 337 1360
Mobile: +64 (0) 027 5124148
