Opito Bay House
By Crosson Architects
A carefully crafted response to a challenging site, the Opito Beach house makes the most of it's dramatic coastal position.
A butterfly roof extends skyward atop three irregular box forms, which recess into the hillside, reducing the apparent bulk of the building.
'Off the boards' precast concrete panels with black oxide additive refers to the nature of the site - black rock covers much of the site - a challenge when excavating the recessed garage and protected entryway. The panels wrap through the entryway and continue to the first level, serving to anchor the house to the site.
The first level bedrooms and bathrooms all have expansive views of Opito Bay and Mercury Island. Terracing off all the bedrooms flows to sensitive landscaping. The ensuite behind the main bedroom features internal windows to capture glimpses of the ocean beyond.
The second level consists of an open plan living space, flowing to generous outdoor decks in solid timber. Balustrades are formed in stainless steel framed glass where warranted by the view.
The butterfly roof to the living level ensures views are captured while maintaining privacy. Highlight windows frame the ridgeline to the south-east, and full height glazing to the north is set back from the edge of the house to provide privacy from within, without compromising the expansive views.
The ceilings are acoustically treated in slotted plywood panels.
Materials are recessive and generally natural, in the palette of browns and greys, concrete and timber with limited use of steel and hard surfaces.
Products used in
Opito Bay House
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Opito Bay House
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About the
Professional
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.