This three-bedroom home in Ōtautahi, Christchurch pushes the convention of suburban living, breaking free of the neighbourhood's conservative design norms to take a fresh stance on densification. Positioned on a prominent streetfront site that's bordered by a car park, a shared driveway and a second dwelling, the layered forms of the brick and metal home provide intrigue from all angles. It openly invites views to the house, but not through it, with lattice work brick, clerestory windows and internal courtyards tracking light, views and airflow in whilst retaining complete privacy.

White brick, sharp geometric form, exposed structure, and the iconic 'Canterbury Prickle' roof detail give a nod to the city's modernist architectural heritage, with a softer, tonal interior of natural materials, harnessed sunlight and curved walls that offset its angular façade. Up top, the folded metal 'gin room' capitalises on its treetop perch, with three sides wrapped in glazing to capture views across the city to the Port Hills.