Springbank Cottage

Arrowtown

An extension to a historic cottage set in beautiful, established gardens. The cottage did not meet the needs of this growing family, but the owners did not want to create a historical pastiche. Nor did they want something slick and modern in contrast to the cottage and its surroundings.

A concept of ruined fragments emerged, the resultant design evoking the remains of an agricultural barn, with posts, partial roof forms and stone walls remaining; the new spaces an occupation of these ‘historic’ elements.

This aesthetic was greatly enhanced with the use of salvaged materials. The owners were fantastically enthusiastic and became obsessed with gathering and salvaging. The design continuously adapted to incorporate these found objects and materials: tall, timber windows from an old school; flooring from the local maternity hospital; upcycled galvanised tin. An earthen floor to the stone-clad kitchen form further echoes the vernacular techniques of the region as well as reflecting the natural, holistic philosophies of the family.

These materials give the contemporary forms of the ruined fragments a historic patina, creating warm, textural spaces entirely in keeping with the original cottage.

View all projects by