In 1989 (when he was a 23 year-old fresh graduate), John Wright designed a cottage in the Marlborough Sounds. The owner was a delightful 80 year-old doctor from Wellington, who lived to a ripe old age and enjoyed many long holidays on her property. John still treasures the thoughtful letter she took time to write to him, to say how perfectly well the design suited her.
By 2015 the original owner’s extended family had purchased the property. John worked with Luke (another graduate) to design a large deck and an addition to the living space.
In 2024, the extended family is growing, with another generation enjoying visits to the cove. John has worked with Emily to design a ‘bunkroom pod’, that will provide much-needed extra sleeping and outdoor living space.
The ‘pod’ is located up-slope and a little away from the original cottage, affording some privacy and keeping the scale of each building modest.
The monopitch roof allows high windows to capture sun from the north side (uphill). Bunk beds are arranged lengthways so that each has both a view of the bay and its own window for sun and ventilation. A good-sized deck gives a flat sheltered place to sit for morning coffee in the sun.
The ‘bunk pod’ is supported delicately by slender steel posts and bearers, with all of the outside in a uniform dark tone to recede against the bush. The interior will be plywood-lined, with bespoke bunks, storage and a long window-seat also of melamine-faced plywood.
It is a delight to work with the same family over the span of four decades, and with a new generation of talented graduates who bring fresh ideas and energy to this evolving story.
Collaborators:
Structural and civil engineer: Seng Engineering Consultancy
Planner: Baseline Group
Building contractor: Martin Goulden Builders Ltd
