A kitchen featuring elegance and performance
Christchurch, New Zealand

Neolith Strata Argentum played a key role in achieving a balance between beauty and durability.
Project location: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
Project type: | Single-family residence |
Neolith materials: |
Neolith Strata Argentum |
At the heart of this stunning Christchurch residence, Yoke Architecture has crafted a kitchen that seamlessly blends natural textures with refined detailing. The choice of Neolith’s Strata Argentum plays a pivotal role in achieving this balance, delivering a surface that not only mimics the timeless beauty of travertine but enhances the space with its durability and design versatility.
Enhancing the sensory experience
According to the Director of Yoke Architecture, Strata Argentum was as close as they’ve seen to a travertine stone, but its strength and profile allowed for more creativity. This allowed them to detail the kitchen in different ways, with an island bench taking on a monumental heaviness in the top, contrasted by the sleek 12mm profile of the expressed Neolith material on the back bench.
“We love to design using natural tactile materials and consider design detailing. Neolith offers a beautiful product that aligns with this philosophy.”
- Cam Pyke, Director of Yoke Architecture
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Riverwashed finish of Strata Argentum enhances the sensory experience, offering a more natural feel than other type of surfaces.
“We were really drawn to the travertine grain and using it on both the benchtops and splashbacks lets this grain come through strongly. Its tonality is warm and soft and sits beautifully in the range of dark timbers we often use in our interiors.”
- Cam Pyke, Director of Yoke Architecture
Combining design and performance perfectly
While design was paramount, the kitchen also needed to stand up to the demands of daily use. Neolith’s high resistance to stains, heat, and scratches made it the ideal choice. At the very beginning the client loved the idea of stone but is partial to a glass of red, so the durability and resistance to stains was a real drawcard. Neolith sintered stone has been in the kitchen for a couple of years now and still looks good as new.
Sustainability as a key factor
Sustainability was another key factor in the material selection process. Neolith’s commitment to eco-conscious manufacturing and large-format slab sizes contributed to an efficient, low-waste design approach.
“Sustainability is a key consideration in all our decision-making. The large size of the sheets allowed us to design efficiently, using one single sheet for the island and one single sheet for the back bench, minimizing waste and cost for the project.”
- Cam Pyke, Director of Yoke Architecture
This approach contributed to reducing the environmental impact as well as minimising waste. Neolith’s large-format slabs allow to reduce joints and provide continuity in the spaces, making the surfaces more hygienic and much easier to clean.
This project exemplifies how Neolith’s unrivalled durability, refined aesthetic, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice for contemporary kitchens. Whether used to create bold, sculptural statements or sleek, minimal profiles, Neolith’s diverse colour portfolio offers endless possibilities for architects and designers alike.