Titirangi House

Building on a slope can be difficult and it’s where you need a specific architectural design solution to make the best of the location. It can be a situation where a house design tailored to the site is the only way to get real value out from the property. Consideration must be given to the way the house sits on the land, how the land is cut, the views, access to the site, orientation and the overall impact on the landscape.   Our design approach for houses on sloping sites is to work with the site, reducing the need for expensive excavation and large retaining walls. We want to enhance the natural advantages of sloping ground such as abundant light, natural ventilation and views.  The site can fall away from the road, as it did in the McCahon Place site, and the house is excavated partly into the ground at the roadside, and then stepped down the site.   The new split level home at McCahon Place was on a steep bush covered site in a new subdivision. The client wanted a warm sunny home, suitable for a home business and to capture the bush and sea views. Solar penetration into the house was important along with ensuring thermal comfort and minimal heating needs.