Beach House

Te Arai

Private Residence
Te Arai, Aotearoa New Zealand
Status ︎ Documentation

The monolithic form of this house is cropped and carved open to produce a constantly shifting silhouette and connections to the landscape that are both direct and unexpected.

A single formThe process starts with a large single monolithic form, sitting atop the site.

Is oriented to viewConsidering the long-range views, the ridgeline of the form is rotated to create a broader range of vantage points.

Then carved away to draw the site inThis form is then carved away to identify different parts of the house while drawing landscape and light deep into the interior.

And maximise views outThis strategy of carving and cropping a large volume creates rooms with multiple vantage points. Windows are then carefully placed to register the presence of key landmarks throughout the house.

To create a house of contrasting qualitiesThe house appears broken down into domestically scaled volumes from some angles, while reading as a monolithic and singular form from others. The resulting interior experience is a hybrid residential model that can be occupied in many different ways.

The resulting interior spaces blend together the qualities of an outward looking pavilion with an introspective cloister building.

14 Fitzroy Street
Ponsonby
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland 1021

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