bretts road

s t   a l b a n s   |   c h r i s t c h u r c h

A new build born from an earthquake-damaged home, Bretts Road was designed for a young family who needed room to live, grow, and put down roots. 

Behind its simple, bold form — three clean boxes anchored by a striking suspended steel-cable stair — sits a thoughtful four-bedroom layout with a study, guest space, and generous living areas that flow effortlessly out to the garden. Built to adapt as the family's needs change, it's a home that's both a fresh start and a long-term one. 

a b o u t   t h e   p r o j e c t

The exterior never quite clicked through earlier rounds with other designers, so we reworked the plan to keep the flow the client loved while stripping the structure back to a single steel beam. Site conditions meant swapping out the dream of brick cladding for a textured render that still gives that cast-concrete look, letting the budget stretch further on a few real showpieces — the stair, the kitchen, a handful of feature doors.

Three clean, simple boxes form the house, with a floating steel-cable stair as its heart — suspended from above and lit by a skylight, it's the first thing that hits you walking in. The upper floor cantilevers out to shape the terraces below, while downstairs opens up around a private master suite, all designed with an eye on the family's future needs.

Months of back-and-forth with the client sharpened the design without losing its boldness. By splurging on a few standout details and keeping the rest simple, the house lands exactly where it should — striking on the street, comfortable to live in, and built to last.