The Supreme Winner Of The 2001 Harvey Roofing Systems Design Award

2001 saw the introduction of the Harvey Roofing System Design Award. This award is judged by majority votes from all sectors of the industry and interested members of the public. It therefore represents a balanced view of the universal appeal and excellence of the Supreme Award Winning design.


Designers Statement

One of my early visits to see Ross and Julie at their old bungalow was a surprise, as Ross, a qualified cabinet-maker and builder, had constructed a 1:50 scale model of the house that I was preparing construction drawings for. This model was to closely resemble the traditional style residence that is now their home.  They also took the opportunity to sit the model on the site to determine sun penetration at the shortest day of the year, prior to setting up the profiles.

Working in conjunction with Ross and Julie over the next 12 months we developed solutions to improve the use of the spaces available under the 45-degree roof pitch, without losing the original design concept.

Ross and Julie had recently purchased a lifestyle block of land with an intensive rural outlook plus water views of the Manukau Harbour. They had a vision for a Country Manor style of home for them and their 3 young children, with the possibility of home-stay accommodation in the future. 

With this in mind Ross and Julie wanted to create a home with a positive New Zealand influence. Drawing from architectural history, they chose Otago schist, textured cement plaster, and board and batten claddings topped with a large roof as a backdrop to the multi-roofed elevation – thus creating a blend of traditional shapes and textures.

A roof of this size needed to be lightweight so as to reduce the size of rafters and beams to the variety of sloping ceilings within, and also to reduce the settlement effects that a concrete tile roof could have had on the entire structure of the building. 

The style and pitch of the roof dictated a no-maintenance surface finish – this has been achieved by selecting Harvey Oberon Shingles (colour - Eclipse) with the natural stone chips embedded into the acrylic basecoat.

The dark colour of the Oberon Shingles contrasts with the warm glow from the cedar barge and fascia boards, complimented with copper spouting and downpipes.

A combination of aluminium-framed joinery was chosen for the maintenance-free aspect and value for money, while timber-framed joinery was chosen for reasons of traditional character and as a feature in the main living areas.

To anchor the house to the ground and give it a feeling of permanence, the variegated hue of Otago schist adds interesting shadow and texture.

Overall, the finished result is a strikingly well balanced presentation of different geometric shapes that form an interesting facade to a functional family home.