The Story

Jack has a bit of a knack for hunting out great hill sites. When he found one that was sheltered with uninterrupted views over New Brighton spit and the City - he decided to build his own home there. There weren’t many surrounding houses - just a lot of steep sections people were too scared to work with. It was such a special location, he figured if he built, others would follow.

A concept began developing for an edgy, ‘feel-good’, four-bedroom house with relaxed flow and great communal spaces for entertaining. It took a few go’s to get the design right! The key was introducing two cantilevers and suspending parts of the building off the ground. Practically speaking this achieved enough square meterage for a workable floor plan, but it also has the upside of looking awesome.

Interior-wise, the vibe is coastal and relaxed, but there are a few surprises woven in to keep things exciting, including a stunning powder room in textured blacks, and a moody whiskey lounge with dark timber features. The Abodo Vulcan charred cladding, with its incredible dragon skin texture, is also a major focal point - almost unseen in the Canterbury region.

This build doubled as our first ever showhome; it attracted some keen attention, and ultimately some buyers! It was bittersweet to say goodbye - but we’re immensely proud of the work we did. The lane is now rapidly rising in value, fully sold out and is being built out with incredible houses.

Kind words:

“It’s the little things that make a big difference and this labour of love combines the hundreds of small choices to produce an overall result that both showcases the workmanship and skill of John Ross Architectural Builders” - Kathy Catton, Abode Magazine.