Point House

The house is situated behind an existing bungalow and on what was previously an empty backyard. The 665m2 site's point of difference in its suburban context is a rear boundary that adjoins a community reserve, comprising a rambling community garden and tennis, bowls, and croquet clubs. To the west resides a lovely 100-year-old church and hall.   New Zealand-made cream bricks, oak, polished concrete, painted board and batten cladding, and glass were selected for their simplicity, durability and textural richness, and assembled in a carefully considered way. In places, structural elements have been left exposed to provide added texture and to emphasise the purity of the simple gabled form.   At 180m2, including a 22m2 standalone garage-studio, this is a modest house that feels large. A square plan is organised around a double-height outdoor room that adds to the sense of generosity. Exposed rafters articulate this space and the roof dissolves into a transparent canopy to capture light and emphasise the structure's delicacy.   Compact and carefully crafted, the Point House achieves generosity of space in an elegant and uplifting way and provides a model for a more economical way of living within our urban centres.