Evill House
NZIA Nelson Architecture Award (Residential Architecture), 2009
The house at Twisted Pine is set on 4 hectares of undulating land on a promontory near Mapua in the tidal waters of the Waimea Inlet. The land was covered for many years in tall pine trees and the views hidden away; the client felled the trees to unlock the site's potential and milled this timber for use within the house.
The house consists of three separate wings surrounding a central courtyard, maximising the views out from the hilltop position. Using the massive timber beams and columns crafted from the 80 year old trees felled from the site allowed large spans to be achieved. Primary to the design was a desire to create a house airy enough to avoid the baking summer heat of Nelson, and yet well insulated from the icy winter blasts. High level clerestory windows allow summer ventilation across each wing, and in winter a large central fireplace anchors the living room and provides a discrete retreat.
The central wing contains living and kitchen / dining spaces within an airy pavilion structure, with whitewashed timber ceilings, imported teak floorboards over a heated slab and massive wide opening doors to either side. The two remaining wings cater for sleeping and working: to the east is the main bedroom, guest bedroom and large study, while the west wing contains bedrooms and a separate living area for the children. The pavilions are linked via glazed connectors, with circulation through a gallery around the 3 sides of the landscaped courtyard, which includes a reflecting pool and Balinese artefacts. The client's extensive collection of oriental artefacts from years living in Asia is incorporated throughout the house.
Client: Tim and Pauline Evill
