Devonport Residence

Front Entry
Devonport
New Zealand
2007

This home belongs to a young family. The house has been renovated with modern open-plan family spaces, but retains the traditional feelings of a New Zealand "villa".

When the house was purchased, the front door was fitted with old gold textured glass. The surrounds were purple pressed glass. I was asked to replace all this and give the entry a door suited to the owners and the house.

The owners are especially fond of New Zealand native plants such as cabbage trees, flax, ferns, nikau. I have incorporated some of these plant silhouettes into the centre and surrounding panels. Looking down the hallway, it is as though they are outside the door, part of nature. It is a contemporary window, but fits into the architecture because of the neutrality of natural forms.

Paying homage to the architecture and giving the contemporary nature of the window a traditional structure, the tree and fern patterns are surrounded by a colourful, leaded glass border. This provides a focus as well as warmth and welcome to the entry.

For ease of care, the foliage is acid-etched. To give an overlapping effect, I have double etched certain areas.