Description:

Faceted and angular, with splayed walls and a saw-tooth roof, this home’s geometry was set by a challenging site in Auckland’s Kohimarama. The section slopes steeply to the south while to the north a tall, monolithic structure overlooks it. The dwelling was divided into three main volumes, then twisted and shaped to comply with height-to-boundary rules. Spaces in between form mini courtyards, including one slivered into that important northern aspect.
Industrial and purposeful, the material palette features tilt-slab concrete walls. These blades define voids which are filled with full-height glazing. Steel roof trusses are reminiscent of a factory while plywood ceilings soften the aesthetic.
A raw-steel balustrade adds drama to the stairway and there is a sense of discovery as one follows the hallway and it steps down to the dining room, with a hint of the living room beyond. The kitchen, an insertion into the main volume, is based on an idea from the Case Study houses. Encased in a dark-stained Strandboard block, the yellow cabinetry within is a happy surprise.
Eight years on a semi self-contained addition has been seamlessly added as a new volume to the front, a fourth volume. The brief was for a separate and private apartment but with connection to the rest of the house and the outdoors, a warm sunny space to feel larger than it actually is. The material palette of the original is repeated, featuring concrete, dark stained strandboard and the warmth of ply, ensuring a continuity between the two parts. The apartment houses a bedroom/ensuite and a second lounge with an outdoor sitting area, without compromising on space.