Mataka House
By Crosson Architects
The site is situated on the crest of a small rise at the base of a mature pine plantation. It is exposed and has 270 degree views. The intention was to develop a house that was not overly dominant in this vast landscape.
The house plan moves around the crest of the ridge to take advantage of the expansive views and to provide shelter from strong directional winds. As the design review committee commented: "It is a cleverly arranged plan to provide for both the spectacular views and the protection necessary from gale force winds. Slewing the building forms gives the arrangement a 'dynamic' that will combat the strength of the enormous landscape. Building forms are single story with shifts in the roof pitch that appear to hug the ground and because of their arrangement wander their way across the hillside, giving the development a beautiful scale".
The design cues come from the Maori word Mataka meaning 'shining faces'. Just as the massive coastal cliffs provide angled rocky faces, so too does the house. Walls and glass lines cant, providing subtle shifts that catch the light differently throughout the day. This also offers a range of spatial and view relationships from the interior.
Photography by Simon Devitt
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Mataka House
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Mataka House
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Crosson Architects is an Auckland based architectural practice with an exceptional portfolio of work. Past projects include residential, commercial, institutional, masterplanning and urban design developments. Ken Crosson and his team have won numerous architectural awards locally and internationally with work being regularly published here and around the world.
Our commitment to providing a superior service to our clients is extended with membership in Designgroup New Zealand, enabling larger scale projects to be undertaken, drawing on a range of resources and expertise from partnering practices. We strive for the highest standards of client service, design and documentation. At the completion of each project, the aim is to have achieved a building that is beyond the client's expectations. We believe good design will produce sustainable, functional and dramatic spaces and buildings that have an enduring quality over time.
Each project is analysed for its special requirements and opportunities: the end result being not a preconceived idea, but a combination of the client's requirements and desires, a response to the site and the budget. Critical consideration is given to the project's specific environmental and historical context, and to the appropriate use of materials and construction methods.
At the heart of the process is the collaboration between the client and the architect. At Crosson Architects we create – and the process is vigorous and robust, rich and rewarding. Amongst other elements, we consider the physical, psychological and spiritual – achieving an outcome that is unique and life-enhancing.
We would love to offer you the opportunity to realise your dream with Ken and the team at Crosson Architects.
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