The Awa
Interior Architecture & Design — Nicola Ross Design
Architecture — Double Black Architecture
Builder — Inhouse Construction
Interior Joinery Manufacture & Installation — Avant Garde
Photography — Andy Kruy
The Awa sits high above the Manawatū River. The landscape and long views guided a palette of warm, tactile materials chosen for everyday living.
The clients had spent years collecting ideas they loved. I helped them bring those ideas into a clear brief that reflected their style and made decisions easier. An architectural audit and spatial planning review resolved how rooms connected before construction decisions were locked in. I carried that work through the full interior design and bespoke joinery, and stayed involved during construction to resolve details on site.
Connection to place
Smoked timber joinery brings warmth and depth, while soft stone and alluvial concrete tones pick up the quieter colours of the river landscape. Linen sheers filter the changing light, and blackened metal details add a subtle contrast.
Work integrated, but kept separate
The client’s work in digital media was accommodated primarily on the lower level, with a dedicated studio, editing room and inward-goods area allowing the practical demands of the business to operate within the home without overtaking it.
This separation was deliberate. By keeping the working spaces largely downstairs, the main living areas could retain a clear domestic character, creating a genuine distinction between work and home while keeping the business fully integrated into everyday life.
