The Designer Retreat — A Californian-Modern Hilltop Home by Jeremy Chapman Architects
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ABOUT
Words from the Architect
Architect Jeremy Chapman of Jeremy Chapman Architects explains how covenants, the land and a brief for natural materials shaped this home: an assembly of simple, robust forms on a hill, designed to sit beautifully within its landscape.
The Ultimate Floorplan
The site's covenants fixed the building platform, and the architect chose to work with that constraint rather than fight it. The result is "an assembly of objects on a hill", arrived at up a slope that keeps the building largely hidden until each element reveals itself at the entry. Kitchen, dining and living share one open volume. A split level creates a sunken lounge, and a large glazed volume to the north widens the view. Timber screens along the northern face veil the bedroom and second living area, controlling light and wind while giving a sense of sanctuary. The outdoor room separates the bedrooms from the living space, both acoustically and physically. The main bedroom faces west for a closer, more intimate green outlook. The scullery, bathrooms and ensuite sit along the south side, where high-level glazing draws in light and views up into covenanted bush. Inside, the cladding timber continues across the ceilings and into the kitchen cabinetry, with textured plaster walls and warm-toned concrete floors. In the hallway, slatted acoustic treatment quietens the hard surfaces. Bifold timber-look shutters close off the front of the house. The pool house frames the view through a large north-facing window and has its own split level, which steps out to a west patio for the late-afternoon light.
The Location
A rare architectural offering in one of Coatesville's most sought after enclaves. Defined by lifestyle blocks, rolling paddocks and pockets of native bush, Coatesville offers genuine rural privacy on Auckland's northern fringe, with Albany, the motorway and the city within easy reach. Riverhead Forest lies close by, while the Settlers Hall, its monthly market and the village cafés give the area a close-knit community feel. Kumeū's wineries, North Shore beaches and several golf courses are all a short drive away.
The Lifestyle
A 20 metre freshwater statement pool, crafted in shotcrete, anchors the outdoor environment and enhances the sense of resort like tranquillity. Underfloor heating throughout the home ensures comfort across every season, while acoustic treatments and thoughtful spatial planning create a sense of calm rarely found in modern homes. Rather than chasing scale, the design focuses on balance, symmetry, and clarity of form. Light moves through the home effortlessly, framed by expansive joinery and carefully curated materials including plaster over Hebel, brick, and Abodo timber cladding. Every detail has been considered, from the pencil line architectural detailing to the warmth of the walnut kitchen and high end finishes throughout.
