Arlington.

Modern house with brown wooden exterior, two gable roofs, and black fence, situated behind a concrete sidewalk and grass, with other houses visible in the background, under a clear evening sky.

Modern house with wooden exterior, large glass windows, outdoor dining area, well-maintained lawn, and a clear sky at dusk.

Modern house with wooden exterior, large window showing living room inside, outdoor dining area, landscaped yard with small trees and planters, and neighboring houses in the background during early evening.

Contemporary backyard with large windowed living space, outdoor fireplace, raised garden bed with small leafless tree, potted plants, and a black fence during sunset.

Modern house with a wooden exterior, large front window, small plants, and a well-maintained lawn in the evening.

Interior courtyard of a modern house with wooden walls, large glass windows, a small gravel ground, and indoor plants, with interior lights on inside the house.

Modern house exterior at dusk with wooden siding, black garage door, and glass front door illuminated from inside.

Modern house with wooden exterior and metal roof, front yard with trees and garden beds, driveway leading to garage, and exterior lighting

Modern house with wooden exterior, sloped black roof, and front yard with trees and green lawn, at dusk.

Backyard patio with outdoor fireplace, wooden furniture, garden bed, and view of neighboring houses at dusk.

Modern house with wooden exterior walls, metal roof, large windows, landscaped yard with small plants and trees, under clear blue sky.

Modern backyard patio with outdoor dining table, chairs, small garden bed, and a wooden house with large glass doors, under a clear blue sky.

Modern home interior with wooden accents, a small bench with a green pillow, a large plant in a gold planter, a wooden dining table with four chairs, and a living area in the background with sliding glass doors letting in sunlight.

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinetry, white island with sink, black backsplash, and a wooden dining table with black chairs, well-lit with natural light.

Open-concept living space with a modern kitchen island, dining area, and living room with a fireplace and bookshelf, large windows, and minimalist decor.

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, white countertops, black flat stovetop, built-in oven, and stainless steel sink, with sliding glass doors and a wall clock in the background.

Organized pantry with jars of spices, baking ingredients, and kitchen appliances including a microwave, toaster, and kettle.

Modern living room with a fireplace, wall-mounted TV, bookshelf, black armchair with a pillow, rug, and large windows showing a backyard.

Modern living room with vaulted ceiling, a hanging woven light, a mounted flat-screen TV above a fireplace, a large window with city view, a bookshelf with decor, a black coffee table on a round rug, and a beige couch with pillows.

A bedroom with a large sliding glass door showing a yard with grass, small trees, and a wooden building outside.

A neatly made bed with white bedding and pillows sits in a bedroom with a wooden headboard and nightstand. Sunlight streams through large glass doors with brown curtains, leading to a small balcony outside. A framed picture hangs on the white wall to

Modern bathroom with a wooden vanity, white vessel sink, rectangular mirror, small window, and a white toilet.

Modern bathroom shower with a rain showerhead, a black towel rack, and herringbone ceramic tile wall.

Modern bathroom with a walk-in shower, a freestanding bathtub, a wooden vanity with a vessel sink, a large mirror, and a window with a potted plant.

Shower wall with white herringbone tiles, a handheld showerhead, two silver controls, and a built-in shelf with three bottles of bath products.

Modern bathroom with a standalone bathtub, large window, black towel rack, and a plant on the window ledge.

Nursery with white crib, rocking chair, basket of toys, and large window with beige curtains.

A cozy bedroom with a house-shaped bed frame decorated with pink flowers and greenery, pink bedding, a small side table with a lamp, a white armchair with pink pillows and a knitted throw, a soft area rug, and a large window with gray curtains.

Arlington House is a refined yet understated family home nestled in an established suburb of Rangiora, a town in North Canterbury. Positioned on a square-set site, the slightly elevated platform captures glimpses of the nearby hilltops while enjoying uninterrupted solar access within its urban setting. The design challenge was to embrace the elevated outlook while preserving privacy and responding sensitively to the surrounding landscape and character of the mature neighbourhood.
Belmont House demonstrates a thoughtful blend of form and function through a series of creative design decisions. The twin gable pavilions, connected by a glazed walkway, not only define the home’s architectural rhythm but also create a strong spatial separation between communal and private zones. Material selections such as Abodo timber and off-shutter concrete serve both aesthetic and practical purposes—offering sustainability, texture, and visual contrast. Screening elements, including planter boxes, battened fencing, and strategic landscaping, provide privacy without isolating the home from its urban surroundings. Passive solar design is central to the sustainability strategy, with polished concrete floors capturing and storing heat from low winter sun angles. These features, along with the refined detailing and restrained material palette, create a home that is both elegantly simple and highly responsive to its site and climate.
The material palette is simple yet elegant. Locally sourced Abodo timber was selected for its sustainable credentials and the lightweight visual quality it brings to the elevated gable forms. Along the northern elevation, a dark timber-battened fence sits atop an off-shutter concrete retaining wall, shifting in and out to allow for landscaped breaks while also grounding the home with its weight and texture.
Privacy is addressed through a layered mix of screening elements. Abodo timber planter boxes, off-shutter concrete walls, and dark timber battens are thoughtfully positioned along the eastern and northern boundaries. These elements are unified with soft landscaping to conceal the interior spaces while maintaining a connection to the surrounding urban context.
The home’s well-insulated envelope is carefully oriented to follow best-practice solar design principles, forming a key part of its sustainable approach. The entire ground floor features a ‘salt and pepper’ polished concrete finish, which absorbs the lower winter sun as it penetrates deep into the living spaces—delivering passive solar gain and thermal comfort.
Belmont House balances the fundamentals of practical family living with a sense of retreat. It responds sensitively to its landscape and the established character of the area—designed to be both enduring and deeply enjoyable for years to come.
Crafted by - Paech Construction Limited
Photography - Stephen Goodenough