Three Homes, One Vision

Tasked with delivering three generous standalone homes on a steep 580m² West Auckland site, client came to us seeking a reset – frustrated by a previous architect’s lack of communication, escalating costs and uninspired designs. With a bold brief in hand, he needed a team who could navigate a constrained urban site and deliver on ambition, budget, and timeline. The site presented numerous challenges: a narrow street frontage, a steep 1:8 gradient, and the need to preserve an existing street tree. House 1 required a complete redesign to create strong street presence, while Houses 2 and 3 needed careful refinement. The brief called for four-bedroom, four-bathroom homes with double garages—ambitious within such tight parameters. Elevating living spaces to the first floor allowed ocean views and a sense of openness, amplified by pitched ceilings, skylights, and generous balconies. Internal retaining walls eliminated the need for external fencing, unlocking usable outdoor space and ensuring site flow. The client’s ongoing design input throughout construction required agile responses and precise detailing. The result is a smart, spatially efficient development that balances density with individuality – and turns constraint into opportunity.