Te Karo House 2

The site for this new holiday home is perched above the Coromandel coastline offering a spectacular outlook across native bushland and the ocean beyond. The clients sought to create a truly special place for their family and friends which would be a place to connect for generations to come. The design took shape by maximising the views to the ocean, and so the main living and bedroom pavilion aligns itself with the topography of the hillside in a north-south orientation with the east-facing walls featuring floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors. Decking is accessed from the spacious kitchen and dining areas. A gabion basket stone wall conceals the main outdoor living area from the driveway and adds to the variety of natural textures and materials used throughout the design. The four bedrooms are positioned in pairs between the two pavilions, connected by the main entry lobby and a small courtyard in the middle. This configuration offers space and privacy to guests where required. The house is designed to sit in harmony with its surroundings. Features such as the natural timber cladding that will gradually age in time, and the lightweight supporting structure that rests lightly on the ground reflect the soft touch that the design seeks to make. By keeping the house at one level, space is freed up underneath for the collection of stormwater in large tanks, while extensive solar panelling will allow this building to remain off-grid.