Westport
The form, scale and materials of the extension are sensitive to the original home, while still contemporary. The location of the new build, to the west side and rear of the home, minimises its impact and avoids the historically significant gardens.
On his death in 1912 Eugene O’Conor bequeathed land and property to a Trust for "the establishment of an institution for rearing and training destitute children and taking charge of old people". The Rest Home was built in 1917 and run by the Sisters of Mercy until 1986. Since that date it has been run on a commercial basis by paid staff. Set in rural surroundings on the outskirts of town, the original buildings maintain a dignified air of peacefulness. Mature trees, beautiful gardens and well kept grounds offer a relaxed and private setting for residents.
The addition is a 20 bedroom extension to the Historic Places Category II listed, 32 bedroom O’Conor Home. The form, scale and materials of the extension are sensitive to the original home, while still contemporary. The location of the new build, to the west side and rear of the home, minimises its impact and avoids the historically significant gardens.
The addition includes 10 hospital care bedrooms, 10 bedrooms in a separate secure wing for dementia care residents, two offices, a reception area, dining room, two lounges (one in the dementia care unit and one in the main home), sluice rooms and store rooms. The addition meets the existing home at two points and allows for future additions. The brief for the O’Conor Home extension interiors was simple – it needed to be uplifting. This is a place which is both someone's home and someone's workplace. It also needed to be a colour scheme that could be taken into the next stage. Stage 2, currently under construction, is the seismic and interior upgrade of the existing home which has heritage features. Care also needed to be taken in the interior design to meet the needs of dementia care residents.
The approach taken was to assign colour schemes to each pair of rooms, which share an ensuite. Resene colours were selected for their clarity and boldness. These colours were paired with carpets and floor/wall vinyls to give the bedrooms a sense of individuality. As an added bonus they have provided landmarks for the residents and for staff giving directions to visitors.
On the exterior, cedar weatherboards are finished in Resene Woodsman Silvered Grey. Inside the bold colours of Resene Bullseye, Resene Phoenix, Resene Impromptu, Resene Troubadour and Resene Wild Thing, Resene Upstage and Resene Grapevine, shine against a neutral backdrop of Resene Quarter Blanc. Bedroom doors are in a range of nature inspired hues of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel in Resene Aviator, Resene Float, Resene Lush and Resene Quarter Lignite. The soothing grey of Resene Half Rakaia and Resene Grey Chateau and warmth of Resene New Orleans completes the look.
Using these bright bold colours for doors and skylight feature walls has given the spaces a contemporary element, which is being taken through to Stage 2 and will tie the existing home and the addition together as one home.
Architectural specifier:
Hopkinson Kelsall Team Architects (HKTA)
Building contractor: Evan Jones Construction
Client: O’Conor Home Institute Trust Board
Painting contractor: David Spark Painters
Photographer: Stewart Nimmo
Supplier – carpet/vinyl: Jacobsens
Supplier: Carpet Court (Greymouth)
Supplier – vinyl: Karndean
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2014
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