The natural aesthetic of Birch plywood panels from Big River Plytech helped create a natural flow between spaces at a new home in Pukekohe, New Zealand.
Designed by Jann Hurley Architects, the home features natural timber finishes extensively with cedar cladding on the exterior walls and Big River Plytech’s ply on the interior walls, ceilings and cabinetry. The natural material selection plays an important role in creating a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor entertaining areas.
The home features an expansive kitchen, dining and living area, which leads out to a patio complete with barbecue, pool, and access to a private section of native bush.
Big River Plytech’s uncoated Birch Elite 12mm ply was chosen for the walls and high raking ceilings of the living areas to provide a cohesive look between interior and exterior spaces.
“The whole exterior is cedar and the ply complements that,” explains builder Harry Van der Putten, Van der Putten Construction. “The two products really work well together.”
The construction team chose the uncoated ply product to deliver the clean look required. Instead of using prefinished panels, they wanted to fix the ply in place prior to coatings, allowing them to fill any mechanical fastener holes. The result is meticulous, with the clean lines of the ply only interrupted by subtle recessed lighting.
The natural aesthetic of Birch ply can also be seen in other areas of the home: A striking ply wall in the corridor provides a visual connection between spaces, while select walls in the bedrooms feature ply to add a touch of warmth alongside plasterboard linings.
Birch ply was also used for the cabinetry in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry using prefinished 18mm panels, ensuring a consistent look throughout the home. The choice to use both prefinished and uncoated ply presented a unique challenge.
“It was important that the two mediums flow together,” explains Harry. “We needed a similar coating to get consistency of sheen and colour. Big River Plytech’s technical team advised on the products that would match their prefinished result and went the extra mile and handpicked the ply to make sure we had a good matching batch.”
“The versatile aesthetic of Birch ply meant that the design could be elevated when complemented by selective use of white prefinished ply. The stunning effect this creates is most evident in the kitchen designed by Carlielle Kitchens where Futura HPL white cabinetry for lower cabinets brightens the space and provides a fresh contrast with the Birch Elite used for upper cabinets,” says Stuart McGonagle, Segment Manager, Big River Plytech.
The natural look and feel of Big River Plytech’s ply helps the stunning home blend beautifully into its rural surroundings.
"We love the accuracy and detail that can be attained using this product, and we are really enjoying the harmony of the interior and exterior timbers used throughout the home," says homeowner Jason.
Images: Jamie Cobel Photography
