Project brief

After searching for the right site with a rural setting the owners purchased a large 10+ ha site covered in Kanuaka and naturally regenerating native forests. The site was typically hillside with northwest to southern views across the farmland to the coast and ocean in the distance. They wanted a retreat-like home that would nestle into its setting. A long narrow-cut platform existed on the site with existing rugged driveway access. Due to the site's building location, the house was to be off the grid.

The brief called for a home that the owners would retire to; the home was typically for the two of them but needed to provide space for their extended family. It was to be spacious, but not excessive, comprise an open plan living area, three bedrooms, a study/studio for the artist owner as well as generous wall space to display their extensive artworks. The home had to provide a direct connection with the outdoor living spaces and with the minimal lawn areas extensive decking was required. The home had to be light, contemporary in style all focussing on the setting and panoramic views.

Design features and creative solutions

On arrival, trees surround you on all sides. A simple black colour steel parapet wall, synonyms with traditional rural buildings, runs along the rear of the house obscuring the view that is beyond highlighting the surrounding bush-clad hills. A gravel walkway, lined with battened screening, extends a bushwalk-like journey to the front door. A large glazed pivot door, located opposite the alfresco room, provides a glimpse of the views on offer and leads into a generous gallery hallway. Windows, located at the far ends of the hallway through bedrooms, capture the bush views beyond. The bedrooms are at opposite ends with the living space centered between. The master bedroom is located at the southern end of the house to capture the northern views. This layout provided the opportunity to shut off the guest accommodation when not in use, especially important due to the power consumption of the off-grid house. The living room is partially divided with a doubled-sided see-through fire and large 4.0m internal sliding partitions are used to separate the living and bedrooms spaces and provide essential space for the large artwork collection. Extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing is used in all rooms capturing light and forming a direct connection with the views and exterior. Large skylights are scattered through the house to provide additional light earlier in the day. A covered alfresco room located off the kitchen enables all year dining and entertaining. With the long floor plan of the house, a black low-slung linear roof was selected to reduce the bulk of the form. Large soffits cover the northern and western faces to provide sun protection in the later hours. Claddings consist of natural vertical cedar, black colour steel walls, and cedar battens blending the architecture into the dark Kanuka tree setting.

Builder - Ryder Builders

Engineer - Base Consulting