SIMON DEVITT
With a view that resembles a painting, the kitchen is a conversation piece. “I have always loved concrete, but it’s not a common residential material in New Zealand; we have an affinity with timber – it s firmly entrenched in our vernacular. This project called for something different, materials that were durable, had integrity and aged well. “It necessitated a substantial material, not only to create a protective solid mass, but also one that reflected the site’s materiality. The concrete precast panels are, in a way, poured stone; an updated version of the stone used for basic shelter by the miners.”