swamp dwelling

PHOTO: A house called a swamp dwelling in Christchurch’s Opawa has won an architectural award for its sophisticated and unassuming beauty. Photo: Supplied / Dennis Radermacher

A house called a swamp dwelling in Christchurch’s Opawa has won an architectural award for its sophisticated and unassuming beauty.

Designed by Ben Brady of Linetype Architectural, the home was built opposite a river in a flood management area on an unforgiving narrow site with a high ground water level.

It won the supreme award for a new residential home between 150m2 and 300m2 at the NZ Architectural Design Awards.

Built on stilts with raised decking and an open subfloor for drainage, it was built for a retired couple who had moved from a lifestyle block and wanted a house that was easily accessible with good building performance.

The house was built by Ben Brady of Linetype Architectural and is set on a long, narrow site with a high ground water level.

The house was built by Ben Brady of Linetype Architectural and is set on a long, narrow site with a high ground water level. Photo: Supplied / Dennis Radermacher

“What do you do when you are in a flood management area and the minimum floor level is 1.4m off the ground? We think high pile stilts, a good amount of raised decking, an open subfloor for drainage, a ramp to raised parking and reduced steps to the house, drop the cladding skirt and areas of decking around the house so it doesn’t overbear.

READ MORE VIA RNZ