Sleek Modern House Retains its Colonial Reference
CoLab’s Modern Interpretation of Christchurch’s Historic Cottages
Charmed by the humble beauty of historic workers’ cottages leftover from the early colonial period, CoLab Architecture and client decided to give one of them a a modern facelift, and called it the Urban Cottage.
Like a silhouette of shadow of a traditional cottage, the Urban Cottage is clad in square profiled Western Red Cedar vertical Shiplap weatherboard which reflects traditional building materials, but also updates them. Stained black, the weatherboards take on a uniquely modern appearance. Inside the home is light and bright.
References to the history of workers cottages are made throughout – expressed window surrounds and recycled timber floorboards help to infuse the home with the charm of yesteryear.
CoLab Architecture reinterpreted the traditional square plan, split it in two halfs and opened up the interior to let in more light and create better connection to the outdoors. Finally, a translucent roof serves as a car porch and a covered entrance to the house gives added functionality and a modern touch.
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