SITTING PRETTY

WORDS: Ady Shannon PHOTOS: Sarah Rowlands

A premium site nestled on the cliffs above Moncks Bay in the seaside suburb of Redcliffs has been in the Cochrane family for two generations. John Cochrane’s parents built the first home on the site in the 1950s and moved there when he was four years old. In 2009, John and his wife Annmaree jumped at the opportunity to buy the home and envisioned a major makeover for the property. Just two years later, the earthquakes of 2011 destroyed that plan when the home was damaged beyond repair. There followed a long and protracted negotiation with their insurers; for two- and-a-half years, John and Annmaree lived on-site in a caravan. When the original home was finally demolished, they had a clean slate to build a new home perfectly suited to their lifestyle, furnishings, and tastes.

John, a cabinet maker by trade, co-owns John Cochrane Furniture with Annmaree. He admits ‘to being happiest with a nail belt on and building’. The couple took over the final stages of the finishing and moved in long before the home was complete. “We were in here for nine months before the kitchen was installed but after two and a half years of living in a caravan, that was no big deal or us,” John says, laughing. “Annmaree has been a massive help and totally hands-on with the project. She kept the site spotless and has been a constant support.”

Their design brief was uncomplicated; they wanted a home with two bedrooms, adequate storage for boat and cars, maximum advantage of the panoramic views, shelter from the prevailing easterly winds, and a lap pool. A business associate recommended architectural designer Nic Curragh, director of Objects Ltd, and from the outset, it was a perfect match. John says, “We clicked straight off and it has been a fabulous association. Nic and I are both very hands-on and we have similar ideas on design and detail.” That positive association has proved to be a winning combination for all the parties involved in the project. John and Annmaree adore their home and Nic recently scooped the ADNZ Architectural Design Awards 2019 National Winner Residential New Home 150m2 – 300m2.

Landscaping has been integrated into the project from the outset and the 13-metre lap pool literally anchors the home into the hillside with 10-metre poles embedded deep into rock holding the house to the hill. A sweeping drive leads to the oversized swivel hinged front door that opens to an entry lobby and pool room beyond. Custom- designed powder-coated aluminium fins at the entry screen the pool and spa and filter the views and light. Vertical cedar cladding on the exterior has been stained dark to blend into the environment. Throughout the interior shades of charcoal and black in porcelain tiles, joinery and fittings contrast sharply with clean white walls. Cedar, white American Oak and walnut feature on doors, ceilings, shelving and floors.

The home is constructed from two boxes on the upper level that cantilever out over the ground floor and pool area. The ground level is dedicated to garaging, utility areas, and a fully self-contained pool room where large sliders draw back on two facades to provide unobstructed access to the pool and lawn area that is protected from the wind by a huge macrocarpa hedge. Lush lawns, trimmed greenery, and a flourishing vegetable garden are a testimony to the green-fingered skills of the owners. The 1830 square metre site extends all the way to Bay View Road below.

A central stairwell just inside the entry lobby leads up to the first floor and dissects the open plan kitchen, dining area and living room from the television lounge and master suite beyond. Ceiling levels and finishes define spaces. In the kitchen and dining area, the stud is 2.7 metres. This soars to 3 metres with a hip raked ceiling over the lounge. Floor to ceiling glass on two facades accentuate the views.

In the snug, cedar batons on the ceiling enhance the cosy intimacy of the space. Sliders open to a balcony at the front of the home and at the rear, another set of sliders open to an enclosed courtyard area where a timber deck extends to a paved al fresco dining area complete with inbuilt bench seats, a pizza oven and a raised potager.

The deck is flanked by the guest bedroom on one side, and the master ensuite on the other, each with glass sliding doors providing access to the area.

Nic says he took cues from the Mid Century Modern – Californian style influences including the choice of materials, transparency of the structure and minimal, contemporary styling throughout. Bespoke elements and painstaking attention to detail are evident in every aspect of the design and build. Internal doors have American oak edge trim that is subtly crafted into handles, shiplap panels of dressed cedar line the stairwell wall and continue down over the entry ceiling. Gunmetal powder-coated aluminium and steel fins inside and out are intricate in their design, finish and fixing. Italian stainless-steel tapware in the kitchens, bathrooms and laundry is from the Quadro range. Supplied by SA Plumbing Supply, Quadro is the largest range of modern stainless-steel tapware in the country, and styles range from traditional through to contemporary, architecturally formatted collections. John and Annmaree chose a traditional style that appealed for its simple lines and high quality.

Décor includes many items made, sourced or sold by John Cochrane Furniture including the KXN kitchen and customised wall unit in the television lounge, designed and manufactured in New Zealand by IMO. John says, “It is part of our range. I liken it to Meccano. It all arrives in boxes and we assembled and installed it.” Lights over the island bench were custom made as well as the angled book reading shelf and chunky walnut free-hanging shelf below. The home is future-proofed with a fully customised and integrated lift – when the doors are open it is a portal from the kitchen to the guest suite.

Nic says winning the ADNZ award is a bonus but his greatest satisfaction comes from the joy the owners have in the home.

“We are over the moon. We will always consider this our family home. It is our happy place. We love it to bits. There is a piece of Nic in every home he designs; here it is in the floating stairs and fins that he had made, machined and installed himself. When you engage an architect, you need to trust them. We trusted Nic and this is a great result,” John says.