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     Architects
Roberts
Gray
     Architects

Tower House

Redcliffs

Single Family Residence
Ōtautahi  Christchurch, Aotearoa  New Zealand
Status ︎ Concept Design











The Tower House is both a nod to, and departure from the conventions of tower construction.









The building is split into two volumes - a garage and the main house. By arranging the functions of the house vertically, these tall yet compact volumes reduce the footprint on site while maximising solar exposure. The rooves are set on the same plane, visually unifying these otherwise separate structures. The base of each volume is shaped to the contours of the ground while the rooves are sloped to fit within the site’s height limit. The base of the main tower then extends out to form a platform over the landscape. A staircase traverses the gap between these two structures and leads to a glazed mid-level landing that offers panoramic views beyond the site.











All living areas are set around a central core, while retaining walls are pushed back to let light into the perimeter of the house.


















The abstract appearance of the roof and plinth are shaped by the ground and sky, while the glazed mid-section exposes a slice of domestic life.