“We need somewhere to park the ute.” That was the brief that architect Claire Natusch of Common Space received from her parents. The couple, who live and work on this Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard and dairy farm, also wanted a garden shed. “It was as simple as that,” says Natusch. But having grown up on this rural property (as her father did before her), the architect recognised the project as an opportunity to address some other long-standing annoyances. 

The design couldn’t be too precious: it needed to fit the agrarian vernacular and work on a practical level. Looking to the surroundings for material inspiration, they settled on timber, concrete and corrugate; raw and robust choices that also sat nicely within budget. When it came to the layout, however, the plan strayed from the norm. Instead of integrating the shed into the carport as many would, Natusch created two unique structures and connected them via a timber-screened concrete path. 

This separation serves one of the architect’s self-imposed requirements — the need to create a better division between the home and nearby farm office. With no clear signage or barrier, visiting farm workers would often get confused and wander around the back of the house. “I came up with the idea of linking these elements together into a structure that delineated the space,” Natusch explains. The connecting timber screen that now runs between the carport and  shed forms a soft barrier to the home, subtly indicating that a private space lies beyond. It seems to have done the trick: no wayward visitors have been spotted since.