Peak Practice – The Humble Gable Roof

The gable roof has been around since the ancient Greeks used them to protect their temples(The Parthenon is just one example) and only the even-more-ancient Egyptians, whoinvented hip roofs – a precursor to the gable – could be considered to have spawned a moreenduring architectural feature.Watch any child draw a roof and they’re unlikely to […]

DESIGN BITES SEPTEMBER

What’s got us thinking: We were mightily impressed by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard who last month gifted his US$3 billion outdoor clothing company to a charitable trust so that a substantial percentage of future profits will be given to climate causes. As Chouinard says, Earth is our only shareholder, and it seems businesses across the […]

What’s afoot?

Well, quite a lot really. A fantabulous array of flooring options for a start. The choosing can be confusing, so here we give you our ground-zero take on the considerations for your new home:  Cue the concrete Concrete floors aren’t suitable for houses built on piles: in effect, it’s the foundation slab that’s ground to […]

Window gazing

Look in or look out, but whatever you do, take a second look. Large windows are not only practical, but it can plump up the aesthetic volume in your home. Slide it wide When Kiwis embraced the original ranch slider in the 1970s, they were marketed as a maintenance-free option. Still, it wasn’t all peaches […]

Counter Culture

Get the kitchen you deserve with these 8 great design ideas from Box.™ Shape of the moment: Once was a time when U-shaped kitchens were the most alphabetically attractive layout. The thinking was they delivered more storage. However, that extra space to hide clutter lies in the deep recesses of the U, so was always […]

ALL EYES ON YOUR DECK

They speak of summertime, beersies and best friends, but decks are more than just a platform for fun. Here’s what to weigh up When your average Kiwi hears the term ‘outdoor living’, they immediately think of a deck (yes, we all know the joke about New Zealanders loving a big deck). But Box™ architect Joshua […]

What To Expect When You’re Building New

If you’ve never built before, it can be a daunting commitment. If you want the experience to be a positive one, here are some questions to ask upfront before you choose to enter the design and build relationship with a new build house company like Box™. 1. At a high level, how does your overall […]

GENERATION FLEXIBLE LIVING

Anyone who has teenagers will understand the need for a home that is bigger than 100 square metres. When Rosie and Steve Maskell bought their 1920s bungalow 16 years ago, adolescent antics weren’t part of the priority list. They just knew that the Ponsonby house was in a great location to walk or bike to […]

KEEPING COOL

If the last few weeks are anything to go by, and NIWA predictions are correct, summers are set to get longer and hotter. Temperature data across eight decades confirms this trend and so, whether designing a family home in the suburbs or a holiday escape at the beach, keeping cool needs to be up there […]