Modern Residential Design

Portelet House - BAS MooArc

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:57:00 +0000

Guernsey Beach Villa - The Portlet House is one of many fantastic works on Guernsey by BAS MooArc - Minimalist style creating a welcoming beach retreat...more

Well after a huge hiatus, I though I would post this gem to rekindle the spirits as Christmas approaches. After a quick catch up on Facebook Jamie Falla kindly provided me with some floor plans to their Portelet House, overlooking Portelet Harbour - Guernsey.

Conceived as three timber blocks nestled into the hillside allowing views of the surrounding landscape from all principle rooms. The palette of materials blends with the beach setting and mediates between water, earth and sky.

With sea views out to the North - the house faces a battle between light and distractions. Rightly so, large full height glazing faces out to sea from both the living and dining room. These comprising two of three connected timber blocks. Angled skylights and clerestory windows ensure that the hallways and bedrooms are also doused in daylight.

The Dining/Kitchen area and Lounge are separated by a glazed ended hallway that runs to the property's entrance and linking the entertainment area to the more enclosed bedrooms to the rear. The glazed end providing a clear shot out to the bay from the entrance.

Contrasting the timber cabins above, a further entertainment area and library are held in the basement below - a welcome retreat for when the wonderful views become too much.

Plans

Modern Architecture - Encampment

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:24:00 +0000

I've had a bit a thing for encampment projects recently. The notion of semi-permanent structures and rather than a solid mass, compartmentalising activities and rooms. The technique fitting well with iterative approaches and generation building - taking off or adding on a unit as needed...

Here's a few I love from around the net. Anyone have further recommendations? AMA House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates @dezeen

jun igarashi architects: house o @designboom

House in Buzen / Suppose Design Office @archdaily

Tennent + Brown Architects - Turn Point Lodge @nickwallen

Fearon Hay Architects - Sandhills Road House @nickwallen

Herbst Architects - Timms Bach @nickwallen

Lund Hagem - Cabin Karevold

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:32:00 +0000

Lund Hagem - again with another cabin I love, this time in Stavern and with a far more challenging plot. Backed into the rock face, the Z shaped plan again provides sheltered outdoor space, and privacy for guests and owners.

Location: Stavern, Norway
Size: 80 m2
Completed: 2008
Three natural stone platforms define the site at heights of 21, 24.5 and 27 meters above sea level. The cabin sits on the crevice which separates the different levels, and in this way the utilization of these natural terraces is maximized.
An outdoor living space defined by the two bedroom bodies and the wall of the highest platform, welcomes you to the site. The cabin continues zigzagging up to the intermediate level, where the living room enjoys panoramic views of the surrounding forest to the east and the sea to the south and the west.

Taking the notion of summer encampment further, Cabin Karevold is a series of rooms connected by a large timber deck. Braving the elements is mandatory, with on halls or circulatory indoor areas, the bedrooms, and in some cases beds, open right onto the deck. With three separate zones, the dining and daily living areas are set high on the surrounding rocks. Descending to the guest bedrooms and bathing area, a broad deck expands for play and creates an outdoor platform, bridging one of many crevices on the plot.

Continue on and the Master bedroom, is connected to what I must presume is the evening wine snuggle. Perfect spot to relax after a day at the beach.

Pics

Plans

Hyde Architects - Pennard House

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:44:00 +0000

A rather special Welsh family home by Hyde + Hyde Architects - sheltering a central courtyard and pool, the guest wing's clerestory windows opening up to the sun and providing a silhouette that cracked the planning codes.

We were approached through recommendation to design a bespoke one-off signature home; derived from a clear understanding of the site and the context of Gower.
Pennard house responds to the individual needs of our clients, while at the same time sensitive in scale to the surrounding buildings. We have attempted to create a home that exudes privacy and celebrates open plan living; while integrating subtle references inspired by the local vernacular.
A Welsh slate wall forms the boundary between the external world and the internal world of home. This forms an important part of the entry sequence, once through the entry door the house opens up completely to the landscape. With contemporary forms and large expanses of glass to blur the boundary between public and private.
The timber clad master bedroom wing cantilevers over the inner court forming a natural rain canopy for entertaining in the persistent Welsh summer rain.

Its refreshing to see a new build make such bold statements in the United Kingdom. Hyde + Hyde making the most of this plot and providing the client with a functional, yet also inspiring home and entertaining space.
The polished floors and minimalist dining area, leading to a covered patio before the pool, rival Californian McMansions in finish an opulence. Yet the vernacular materials used in the build, Welsh slate, and timber cladding of the master suite, align the house with its location and neighbours.

Pics

Plans

Lund Hagem - Cabin Ameln

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Lund Hagem, based out of Norway have a fantastic site, and collection of baches. Cabin Ameln, a providing sheltered BBQ retreat, and views out across the fjord. Contour hugging hunkered in design, connects with the site while minimalist layout and crisp finishes set it apart from your ordinary weekend retreat.

Location: Østerøya, Sandefjord, Norway
Size: 90 m2
Completed: 2009
The building sits in sloping terrain in close proximity to the sea. It has been designed to create favourable, screened outdoor areas. Previous buildings (4 in total) have been demolished and replaced with one new building that collects all functions under one roof.
The L-shaped layout uses steps to follow the terrain so that the building can utilise existing vegetation and trees to avoid visibility from the sea. This layout creates one upper and one lower outdoor area/patio. The upper patio has been duly
screened from the seafront, but offers views through the building due to glass walls.

I think I've found my Northern Hemisphere Bach Architects!

With three guest bedrooms providing extra sleeping for six, the singular roof canopy links the two wings for owners and guests. The floor plan encapsulating the rear entertaining area, sheltering it from the fjord and winds lets the house make the most of its setting and views.

The contrasting concrete form rear patio, and warm untreated wood is refreshing. And with time as the wood ages gracefully, the exterior of the house will blend further into it's wooded surroundings. Internally, the trimming maintaining it's warm glow.

Pics

Plans

Peka Peka Dome House - Fritz Eisenhofer

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:53:00 +0000

A Dome In Peka Peka from livlin productions.

Another little jem from New Zealand. Many thanks to Damian Harrison for the tip on this interesting video about Fritz Eisenhofer's earth sheltered house in Peka Peka.

First Light House - The New Zealand Solar Decathlon entry 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

As an alumni and architecture fan I’m excited that Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand’s capital city, has been selected as one of 20 university teams to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 – the only entry, ever, from the southern hemisphere.

The First Light house channels the essence of the iconic “Kiwi bach” – a focus on recreation, socialisation, and outdoor living. As primarily a summer destination, life at the bach takes place as much outside, on large decks and patios, as it does inside. Our house brings these ideals of bach life into a contemporary setting, providing a permanent residence where recreation and social activities are united with environmentally sound technologies.

Here are a couple of videos and pics highlighting this impressive project. And what a kick start to practice your career this way!
More available at http://firstlighthouse.ac.nz

Pics

Plans

Follow along with their progress here:

Simon Winstanley Architects - The Houl House

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:24:00 +0000

Simon Winstanley Architects have another award winning green house to add to their portfolio. The Houl, in southern Scotland, is not only net "zero carbon", but an impressive open-plan modern statement to boot.

The house is sited in a natural concave area of hillside facing principally west along the contours to enjoy the spectacular landscape setting of the river Ken valley and the ridges of the Rhinns of Kells hills opposite.

The intention was to create a contemporary single storey "long house" which is recessive in the landscape, sustainable in its construction, very low in energy consumption, and aiming for zero net emissions of carbon dioxide for all energy use in the house.

The design uses lightweight but highly insulated steel and timber frame construction, clad in cedar weatherboarding allowed to weather to a natural silver grey colour. The roof ﬁnish is pre-weathered grey standing seam zinc. Windows and external doors are triple glazed high performance timber, painted grey. All
insulation levels are to Passiv Haus standards.

The slope of the roof of the main living accommodation follows the slope of the hillside, with the rear roof meeting the main roof at a shallower angle to allow morning sunlight to penetrate the centre of the house.
The entrance to the house is sited on the north east side of the house under the cover of the roof to provide shelter from the prevailing wind. The principal rooms are situated along the contour of the site to enjoy the views across the valley to the west. The ancillary spaces are generally to the rear.
The house is net "zero carbon" by using very high levels of insulation, minimising air inﬁltration heating using an air source heat pump with a "whole house heat recovery ventilation system", and generating electricity using a wind turbine.

Plans

Photos: Andrew Lee - www.andrewleephotographer.com

Herbst Architects - Timms Bach

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:41:00 +0000

The latest in their series of baches (small holiday retreats) on Great Barrier Island continues to explore the relationship of the building to the natural environment.
Photographer Jackie Meiring.

I've been a fan of Herbst Architects for some years now. Their ability to perfectly nestle a house into its environment and leverage the site's natural assets is amazing. As their bevy of Great Barrier Island houses grows, they have created a new vernacular, of lightweight raw wood and gabions from local stones.

Plans

Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects - Villa Mecklin

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:17:00 +0000

Summer Camp - Villa Mecklin looks like the perfect weekend retreat. A stylish, minimalist interior being all you need to really detach yourself from work. Underfloor heating is taken to a new level here with a sunken fire pit! Strong south orientation for solar gain and a wood burning stove - winter or summer it's another great escape.

Overview

Villa Mecklin is located in the Finnish archipelago. It sits in a small depression in the rocks, its sheltered terrace extending over the summit of the rock. In connection with the shoreline sauna, there is also a stove-heated cabin for guests.

The building materials selected for Villa Mecklin are uncontrived, basic ones suited for the archipelago. All wood surfaces have been left untreated and will turn grey naturally.

The Villa was built in 2008. The floor area of the villa is 70m2 and the sauna is 20m2.

Although angular in lines and form, the cabin's extended outer walls provide the deck with what could be described as a comforting embrace. Doubling functionally as wind breaks and storage, the also no doubt afford some privacy to the owners from passing boats.

With an open plan living, kitchen dining area fronting on to the extended deck, the living area is trebled. Short stilts support the deck and house - flattening the rocky terrain to create a very usable entertaining space.

In contrast, the sleeping areas follow their function arranged at the cooler northern end of the building with minimal glazing, aiding in regulating the winter and summer temperatures.

Gracefully greying, the timber exterior blends into its surroundings. - This will be a holiday home that's enjoyed for many years to come!

Plan

Salt Spring Island Cabin - Olson Kundig Architects

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:17:00 +0000

Bachelors Retreat - Tom continues his streak of wining cabin designs, Chicken Point, Tye River and now the Salt Spring Cabin. Minimalism, with a true Masculine feel to it. Solid RSJ girders forming the framework, and a heavy duty shutter mean this vacation box is locked up tight during the week.

Overview

Set on an island north of the San Juans, the exterior metal skin of this single room cabin will be allowed to weather naturally. Inside, wood-finished surfaces create a cozy refuge. A large, weathered steel panel slides across a window wall, securing the space when the owner is away. Tom Kundig

The cabin is harking me back to the simple lines and robust functionality I love. My realm of modern architecture.

Historically, the British Columbia cabin vernacular took materials in their raw state and moved little from them - stained log cabins, with barely the bark removed and flagstone bases.

The Salt Spring Cabin is in the same vein, but it takes raw construction materials and leverage their textures and durability. Usually (don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see the current Cortens binge) we'd see paint over the RSJs or a stain or three on the ply indoors, thankfully not in this case. Bravo to the client, who no doubt sought Tom out from precedence.

A singular structure, south facing, with great thermal mass, mean that the pot belly wood fire (I think its one of these) may not get much use in summer. The left and right doors to the rear though should provide good cross ventilation in summer, as with the front window when not shuttered up.
Winning a recent Residential Architect award the Judges described that fantastic door thus:

"The panel —operated by hand like a barn door— is commodity steel pulled off a stack before fabrication. Kundig, FAIA, let the lettering stand as “an authentic mark of its history and in the spirit of allowing materials to age naturally with no ‘protective’ coating that needs maintenance."

I'm off to see what other forest retreats are out there.....

Plan

Photographer: Tim Bies

Murray Cockburn Partnership - Kohara Lodge

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Murray Cockburn Partnership

Kohara Lodge

Of middle earth - Murray Cockburn has created a true hideaway. Kohara Lodge, of local schist stone and sedum roof, sits in quiet vigil above the Shotover river. Oh, and it's a holiday let.

Overview
Kohara Lodge has been built with environmental considerations in mind. The owners' main aim was to put the land back to the way it was once building had finished hence the design of the property incorporating the natural hillside, and re-planting the grounds with native New Zealand trees.

The architect's vision was to replicate the natural environment as much as possible. To this end natural schist stone from a local quarry was used and this was dry laid as much as possible and dry stacked. Recycled railway timbers have been used on the outside of the property and there is no paint anywhere on the exterior of the house.

The windows at Kohara Lodge all have Comfort glass to prevent glare and reflection, built in UV protection and double glazing for energy efficiency.

Location
The house was designed by architect Murray Cockburn from Queenstown. The main aim of the owners when building was to ensure the land could be put back the way it was once they had finished, for example the grounds are planted with all native trees.

Set into the hillside with a grass covered roof, the house is built of schist stone and natural wood beams. From the all main rooms there are magnificent views over the mighty Shotover River and Coronet Peak.

Features
The spacious open plan living and dining area features a stylish, contemporary fitted kitchen with a large rustic kitchen table, glass splash backs and over size ceiling lights.

An open fire and feature ceiling-height schist stone fireplace create the prefect environment to relax in the colder months, with comfortable leather armchairs and couches. In the summer, large floor to ceiling glass doors can be opened up to the terrace area, which enjoys an outside open fire and provides access to the lap pool.

4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 ensuite), open plan living, dining and kitchen area, lap pool and heated spa.

Project location
Arthurs Point, Queenstown, New Zealand
Architect
Murray Cockburn Partnership

Further info
www.ultimatehides.com
www.koharalodge.com
Plans

Herbst Architects - Lindale Bach

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Herbst Architects

Lindale Bach

Sticks and stones - Blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior, Lance and Nicola Herbst have become the masters of the simple, elegant, functional beach retreat. If they'd take the job, Lance and Nicola would be my choice for designing an eco retreat.

Overview
Built on an island with no mains electricity and daily ferry connections, the Lindale residence on Great Barrier Island HAD to be as energy efficient as possible.

Minimal materials were freighted in and the central Gabion wall of the residence an ideal solution. Using local river stones, the wall provides a fantastic heat store and structural backbone to the build. The wall also counters the wind in covered outdoor spaces, together with a cosy fire making this retreat and so special.

Prior to the build beginning, large rainwater and sewage treatment tanks were buried under the site. The cooler environment promoting less bacterial growth and leaving the relatively pure rainwater, collected from all roof sections, requiring no treatment to drink.

A Full functional kitchen the heart of the residence is flanked by a covered porch to the right with open fire and shaded midsummer dining area to the rear. Sunken, in front of the kitchen and nearest to the beach, is a cosy built in couch and tv nook.

Traversing the Gabion wall to the rear of the house is the bedroom tower and bathroom. Two bedrooms with surf views or walk out patio respectively

Our primary concerns in the design of this building have been to:

create an environment that facilitates and enhances the experience of living outdoors

challenge convenience as the driving force behind decisions, concentrating rather on the rituals associated with space

establish a range of spatial, light and textural experiences be responsive to the small scale of the existing built
environment.
In order to articulate the building in a scale of forms appropriate to the environment the functions of the house that require complete weather enclosure are broken into three individual masses:
a horizontal structure housing the living functions

a tower housing the sleeping and bathing functions

and a boatshed.
prevailing south-west wind a spine wall of gabion baskets is set at right angles to the site. The wall sets up a strong enclosing edge for the main covered living deck and provides an intimate textured backdrop to the bathroom space. The masses of the building are arranged around the gabion wall to form edges, create a range of negative spaces and provide wind shelter to two covered outdoor living spaces.

Lance Herbst

Project location
Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Architect
Herbst Architects
Plans

Photos Patrick Reynolds

Simon Winstanley Architects - Deepstone Residence

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Simon Winstanley Architects

Deepstone Residence

Of the earth - nestled in to the site of a former quarry, Simon Winstanley Architects have created the perfect "viewmaster" in the Solway Firth, Scotland (National Scenic Area).

Overview
The design meets the client's brief for a contemporary, energy efficient home which fully embraces the view
and relates to the surrounding context and landscape. The light, airy first floor contrasting the solid lower level, minimising the visual impact of the house, nestling it into the site. Open plan, the predominantly glazed top floor, provides two living rooms and a wonderful central entertaining kitchen dining area. Quite how the guests will tear their eyes from the view is another issue all together.

Location
The site is a steeply sloping, former quarry in a National Scenic Area which slopes steeply in two directions from the quarry base which forms the only level ground access.
The house is conceived as a stone plinth which echos the exposed quarry face and houses the bedrooms
with a garage & entrance under at the level of the quarry base.

Layout & Materials
The principal living accommodation is expressed as a lightweight glazed "pavilion" sitting on the solid plinth. It is set back to form an external terrace facing the sea and to reduce the apparent mass of the house.
The glazed pavilion is constructed with a steel frame and highly insulated timber infill panels clad in cedar and triple glazed windows. The roof, although thick internally to provide very high levels of insulation, is cantilevered on all sides with projecting expressed douglas fir rafters to give a thin, elegant leading edge.
The roof is finished in standing seam pre-fabricated grey zinc. The masonry base is finished in stone from re-cycled quarry waste.

The design uses the most energy efficient construction & technology where possible as part of a sustainable approach to building for the future:

the external walls, floor and roof are insulated to a high standard and air infiltration is minimised.
triple glazed windows with warm edge spacer bars, thermally broken frames and inert gas filled to achieve a whole window u-value of 0.7W/m2K.
heat pump using a borehole as the ground source for the underfloor heating and hot water system with a closed combustion wood burning stove as back up.
micro generation of renewable electricity using roof mounted Photovoltaic Panels.
whole house heat recovery ventilation system.

Awards
The project has recently received a string of awards - a prestigious Saltire Society Housing Design Award, one of only two awarded this year, a Design Commendation from the Glasgow Institute of Architects and a Chartered Institute of Building Commendation Award. The project was also shortlisted in the Roses Design Awards.

Project location
Solway Firth, Scotland
Architect
Simon Winstanley Architects

Plans

Further photos flickr

Tennent + Brown Architects - Turn Point Lodge

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Tennent + Brown Architects

Turn Point Lodge

Great Architecture - Choppered in - Tennent + Brown Architects landed their clients lodge softly in Pelourus Sound. The cozy wood fired lofts and separate living pavilion combine in a perfect self sustained retreat. Photovoltaics, rainwater harvesting and solar concious design combine with modern chic and warehouse like solidity of the steel frame construction.

The clients, two French brothers living in Singapore and Shanghai were struck by the outlook and drama of Turn Point.

The block had a designated building site on the southern side overlooking Four Fathoms Bay and in the shade most of the year. Instead the clients were taken by the outlook and drama of a narrow ridge facing northwest overlooking the point and gullies full of Nikau and regenerating broadleaves, up the long reach of the Pelorus Sound.

The challenge of this choice was accessibility. The site was 20m below a precipitous narrow forestry road, which itself was some 2km to the nearest barge landing, and some 50m above the sound. Discussions with David Kepes the selected contractor experienced in working the sounds, focussed on the difficulty and cost of accessing the site for both materials and labour.

It was decided to adopt the strategy of heli-lifting nearly prefinished buildings and subfloor frames to the site to minimise the need for site labour.

The brief called for a dwelling with separate bedroom /study/bathrooms for each brother and a central living /eating /kitchen space. There was a desire for guest accommodation if affordable. The house would be used once or twice a year, predominantly in summer for the medium term.

The brief suited the heli-lifting strategy suggesting separate buildings of liftable size and weight. The design process thus necessitated an understanding of building mass. This was developed through research with heli-lifting specialists and our engineers. The idea of towers reflected the singular quality of the private spaces and suited the lifting approach. The communal building sits parallel to the water below, and extends out each end providing morning and evening outdoor spaces. These spaces receive sun and shelter from the land and sea breezes, so that the north eastern end is sheltered from the cool morning land breeze running from the south, and vice versa for the blustery afternoon sea breeze. This was created in two halves and winched together once landed on the sub frames.

The occasional use of the buildings and the strong western light and occasional winds, has been responded to with a system of operable and fixed louvers. These louvers, along with cladding of profiled coated aluminium, give the building the appearance of shipping containers and huts sitting on the hillside. The interiors were requested to be white by the clients and the exposed steel work was required for the extreme wind zone and loads exerted during flying.

A great deal of attention was given to the spaces between the buildings with terraces and decking, and retention of existing trees. Electricity is made on demand by a remote diesel generator and photovoltaics, and gas is used for water heating and cooking to minimise electricity loads. Solar hot water was not as suited for the intermittent use, and separate buildings. A biolytix septic tank suited the long periods of no use and rain water is collected from the roofs.

Architect Tennent + Brown Architects
LocationPelourus Sound, marlborough sounds, New Zealand
Project Year 2007
Plans

Fearon Hay Architects - Sandhills Road House

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:38:00 +0000

Fearon Hay Architects

Sandhills Road House

Escape to Great Barrier Island - Fearon Hay Architects have taken their minimalist luxury to Medlands once again. Hard to resist Arch Daily's post on this hidden wonder, I'm drawn back to my youth!
Derived from the classic Kiwi tarpaulin for living between two caravans, this three bedroom house has all the subtle finishes and bold clean lines for which Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay are renowned.

Contrasting Fearon Hay's prized Shark Alley house further up Medlands beach, the Sandhills Road House tucks itself into the shelter of the sand dunes to the East. Both wonderfully minimal, Sandhills is more of a traditional retreat, subdued with a calming pallette. Each bedroom has its on shuttered patio and the entire house can be shuttered closed in winter.
Fearon Hay's traditional polished concrete is limited to a hard wearing living/dining area that in summer, thanks to the shelter of the dunes, could easily be left wide open. The two sleeping pavilions are clad in black stained ply and constructed over height with the walls extending to form the railing of the upstairs deck/viewing platform - a short unintrusive deck, from which to soak up the Medlands beach sunrise.

By Nico Saieh, Arch Daily

Located on the Eastern coastline of the Huaraki Gulfs, Great Barrier Island the ‘Great Barrier House’ is a relaxed holiday destination that references traditional notions of bach occupation. Drawing inspiration from the idea of two sheds linked by stretched tarpaulin, the house consists of two habitable areas joined by an expansive floating pavilion. Wide expanses of sliding glass doors & adjustable blinds allow the pavilion to respond to different environmental conditions while providing the location for eating dining & relaxing within the natural surrounds of the property.
Clad in band sawn ply sheet the ‘sheds’ provide a modern take on the use of vernacular building materials. Coupled with the use of permeable metal screens the ability to manipulate outlook and environment from within the ‘sheds’, provides further reference to traditional notions of holiday occupation and response to site. As locations for the bedrooms and bathrooms these built forms offer a sense of refuge from the open pavilion space.
A roof deck upon the Northern ‘shed’, gives outlook and sea views, otherwise restricted by the site location behind the Medlands beach sand dunes and nestled amongst the neighboring properties. Standing upon the roof deck looking South-West towards aging corrugated farm sheds and looking North-East towards the expansive seascape, the Great Barrier House sits comfortably within its environment; offering a private retreat while allowing an occupation that embraces the surrounding landscape and context.

Architect Fearon Hay Architects
Location Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Constructed Area 250 sqm
Project Year 2007-2008
Photographs Patrick Reynolds
Plans

Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd - Kelburn II House

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd

Kelburn II House

Modern Suburban Villa - Herriot + Melhuish tucked this two level sanctuary in between established houses in the Wellington surrounds. It's U shaped floorplan forming a sunny courtyard behind their northerly neighbour.

Brief
Initially wanting a remodel of the existing villa, the clients' final brief entailed a bedroom and office on ground level along with the living spaces, a further bedroom for visiting family and a library. A north facing courtyard was also a requirement to provide a protected and private entry - and somewhere for summer evenings outdoors.

Site
The challenge of a narrow site and small site area, along with the associated height to boundary restrictions, meant innovative sollutions to sneak two stories in. These created a snug kitchen / dining area downstairs and set back bedroom and library upstairs.

The orientation of the site virtually due north and west, its linear nature, and the need for off street parking, dictated the placement of the built forms.
Views down the valley to the north and west are lapped up from the upstairs bedroom and library.

Design Approach
There was a conscious effort to avoid a totally open plan living space, instead creating two distinct areas where people could gather; the kitchen / dining area, or the main living space (to deal with larger family gatherings).

The home is organized around three main structural block walls that cantilever to support the upper level floor, and also provide a rhythm of structural elements along the main circulation route.
Building height restrictions lowered the ceiling height beneath the upper level spaces, which is reinforced with the use of exposed timber beams.

This ceiling treatment contrasts the finish and scale of the adjoining main living space to the west, and bedroom / office to the east.
The home is intended from the street to read as a contemporary version of a suburban villa, with the centrally placed windows to the bedroom and a rhythm of zinc sprayed steel verandah posts.
Materials have been limited to painted horizontal weatherboards on the ground level, and contrasting stained vertical boards and battens upstairs. Large sliding timber doors have been inserted into an aluminium glazing system, and external steel columns are zinc sprayed.
The raw palette of interior materials includes: concrete blocks, polished concrete floor, timber paneling, expressed timber joists, and timber / plywood joinery.

Slideshow

Architect Herriot + Melhuish: Architecture Ltd
Project team Max Herriot, Marcus Breitenmoser, Oliver Markham, Sara Newport
Contractor Dalton Construction
Plans

via:Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd

Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd - Waimarama House

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:01:00 +0000

Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd

Waimarama House

Shifting Tides - Strongly connected to the land and surrounding beachside - a prime example of the new beach house vernacular in New Zealand - Herriot + Melhuish have created a holiday home that's prepared to move, if the sands and tides shift against it.

Overview
Having recently picked up a New Zealand Architecture Award for 2008/9, this house exemplifies the latest in bach design. Not forgetting its heritage, the house uses traditional materials, in a befitting contemporary manner. Horizontal wethearbords, plywood and sheets of iron roofing were the mediums for many a handyman around coastal New Zealand, used to create simple holiday huts.

Today, the same materials have produced this modern wonder. A comfortable 4 bedroom home, with sheltered outdoor spaces and an upstairs retreat from entertaining for the owners.

Far from it's simple forebarers, this is a house where the living is easy. sheltered summer decks, outdoor showers, simple flow to the outside of the house and plenty of room for extra guests to camp out.

Brief
The client sought a family house on the beach, with four bedrooms plus studio and study. In this coastal setting, sun, views and habitable outdoor spaces alternately protected from and catching sun and wind were a priority.

Site
Located close to the beach and fronting the Waimarama domain, the site is constrained both in size and by the need to relocate the house if required. Set against these constraints is a spectacularly open landscape - the edge between sea and hills, and a relaxed aesthetic of a small beach community.

Design Approach
The design approach combined a rational geometrical sensibility with a romantic attachment to the land and tradition. Hence a simple composition of two interlocking volumes: a white bedroom wing, loosely derived from the repetitious plan of 'shearers quarters', inserted into a double height 'timber 'crate'.

The forms are then extended, layered and truncated in response to site, views, sun and programme. The resultant north-facing courtyard not only leads to the front door but also provides outdoor family space – strongly connected to the house and sheltered from the afternoon sea breezes. Visual connection through the house and to the landscape was a key driver of the design. In the main bedroom upstairs, capturing the full drama of the sunrise and the expansive views from Cape Kidnappers to Bare Island were significant.

More than just a 'beach house', this is an all-year round dwelling. However, the need to relocate the building if required ruled out concrete construction. Instead high levels of insulation, heat pump technology and solar panels on the roof, augment the large double glazed openings that capture sun and trap heat in winter, but cool through sea breezes in summer.

The composition of natural oiled cedar weatherboards, painted plywood and weathered zinc sheet both connects the house to the landscape and some older local traditions, but equally clearly sets it apart from a lot of the local built context. This is a house strongly connected to the land but prepared, if the sands and tides shift against it, to move.

Slideshow

Architect Herriot + Melhuish: Architecture Ltd

Project team John Melhuish, Max Herriot, Oliver Markham
Contractor Mark Dawson
Photographer Paul Brimer
Google Location

Plans

via: Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd

Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti - Casa del Masso

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:49:00 +0000

Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti

Casa del Masso

Razionalismo Comasco - A near vertical site in Como, with stunning views, let Marco Castelletti nod to local Italian architecture of the thirties, whilst bringing his clients a modernist house, proportioned and segmented with precision.

Overview

"At the end of 2002 the clients approached us to design the house.
They wanted to build this new house next to their one, in the garden facing the lake, and they were after something typically razionalismo comasco, architecture of the thirties driven by architect Giuseppe Terragni. So they chose the project that best met their expectations, ours. The project's main idea gave the name to the building: casa del masso." Marco Castelletti.
The house, set on a steep slope above the street, can be clearly seen across the lake.
The building stands by the side of the client's old house designed by engineer Luciano Trolli in 1955, and it takes advantage of a little tract of flat land, as does the original residence.
The house is linked to the street by a long flight of steps which wind along the slope and down to the house, which is organised over two floors.

Layout
The composition is based on the intersection of two volumes:
The first - facing the lake, is an horizontal structure supported by pilotis houseing all the living and bedrooms.
The second - is vertical holding the staicase and the services rooms.

On the first floor the living room crosses the house and is directly connected with the slope behind. Here the presence of a erratic boulder, in italian language "masso" (here is where the name of the house comes), protrudes into the dwelling as the characterising element of the space, so that it seems that the house is anchored to the slope at this point.
The boulder can be seen through the glass floor of the living room.

From the parking area you reach the main entrance via a flight of steps or an elevator running on the side of the garden.
After reaching the main entrance a footpath covered by a overhanging volume introduces a little hall where you can see the landscape and the monuments of the city.
From here, a large staircase takes you to an atrium with the large glass window which frames the erratic boulder. The internal layout of the main dwelling faces the kitchen, the living room and some other rooms towards the lake, while bathrooms, services and the laundry are put towards the slope.

The materials used to build the house enhance the volumetric composition and the difference between the horizontal volume, suspended and completely covered by white marble dust plaster, and the vertical covered with a natural stone called Iragna, laid down in horizontal layers with different length and thickness.

The same stone was used for the external pavements, the main entrance staircase and the terrace floor on the highest level.

The large windows are divided in sliding parts with electrical rolling shutters made of aluminium.

Solar exposure is optimised wit hteh building orientated with its largest windows and rooms to the south, and services and bathrooms facing north.

ResultsThe clients were really satisfied of the project and followed all the phases of the building that, because of the particular nature of the steep land, involved many challenges.
The crane to build the house was placed on the slope with an helicopter used to transport heavy weights. None the less, the house was completed in seventeen months, from May 2003 to December 2004, as stipulated.

Slideshow

Architect Marco Castelletti Architetto
Short Biography
Marco Castelletti, born in 1958, graduaded from the Facolty of Architecture in Genova on 1983.
In 1994, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005 was awarded the architecture’ s award “Magistri Comacini” for works carried out in Provincia of Como and in 2004 the international award AR+D for emerging architecture in London.
In the spring of 2005 he was invited to give a lecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.
He won many competitions for urban renewals in north Italy, as the upgrading of the Trieste waterfront, and from 1998 he has been invited to international competitions.

Project location Como Italy
Client private owners
Architectural design by Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti
Interior design by Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti
Landscape design by Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti
Structural design by Ingeneer. Vittorio Montanini
HVAC design by Ingeneer. Vittorio Montanini
Lighting design by. Zumtobel
Main Contractor Impresa Biacchi s.a.s. – Plesio (Co)
Landscape contractor Impresa Biacchi s.a.s. – Plesio (Co)
Site Area 3000 sq/mt
Built up area 200 sq/mt
Budget 750.000,00 euro
Cost per sq. metre 1.800,00 euro
Google Location

Plans

via: Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti

Clinton Murray - Gunyah Residence

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:27:00 +0000

Clinton Murray

Gunyah Residence

Solid as a rock - A challenging section on Gunyah beach in Bundeena, forced Clinton Murray to rethink the vernacular (perhaps simple) Australian beach side house and create a resilient coastal retreat. Built to last forever.

Overview
Huge boulders throughout the cliff side, would have made slapping a wooden prefab house on the top of the plot the easiest option. Choosing instead to hide the house well down the plot near the breaking shoreline, posed challenges, yet rewarded both the architect and owners with stunning results. It also appeased the planning officials and nearby residents.

"The linear site is divided midway by a massive rock face, defining two distinct levels. The natural, sheltered enclave at the base of the rock face is where we believed the building belonged."

Tucked into the hillside, the copper clad roof has set out to weather itself in the ocean green shade of the bay beyond, further minimising the impact of the building for neighbours above.

Combined with the weathered copper is the solid base of the house. The ground floor living structure, of textured off-form concrete made with horizontal board forms, gives the impression of weathered timber, which contrasts with the fresh browns of the Oregon sleeping quarters and gallery above.

Building on a series of staggered rock platforms, the logistics of site management for labour, plant & equipment was challenging. All materials had to be craned in or manhandled from the top of the site, or from the beach front below. The entry stairs and concrete bridges required innovative reinforcement and form work solutions to achieve both continuous spans and the appearance of thin concrete blades hovering above the site. These thin blades continue inside with kitchen bench tops and bathroom surfaces formed on site of ultra thin jet black concrete.

Layout
To reach the timber front door, you negotiate the rock face via timber steps that weave through the boulders. Crossing a bridge that leads to a discreet front door you push open an oversized panel to reveal the high stud gallery. Strategically orientated, the full height end window of the gallery frames a nearby palm. Everything is overscale, stretched vertically, to relate to the magnitude of the cliff face behind the building site. Here, the reused Oregon timber stands vertical, allowing the seams to disguise two door panels, behind which hide two of the three master bedrooms. Each with, en-suite, balconies and outstanding views across the bay.

Heading down the hillside, you arrive at the main living quarters, housed in that heavy masonry base of textured off-form concrete. As with the rest of the house, glass front windows bathe the room with light, yet here, in contrast, the kitchen area to the rear and cubbyhole rooms, are lined with dark black concrete floors and bench tops. The darkness providing refuge from the summer heat, and mimic the caves often found tucked into cliffs around the Australian coast.

Also taking notes from nature the orientation of each level shifts as you rise up the cliff face. Thus forming fronds like the nearby palms, and allowing the building to sit back, minimising it's visual impact from the shoreline.

Results
"The house sits with its toes touching the sea and with an exposed worn rock face at its back, both constant reminders of the power of wild storms blowing in from the north-east. And should the big seas come, this house is a safe haven, no question about it."

Slideshow

Architect Clinton Murray
Project team Polly Harbison (Project Architect), Tanja Klocker, Jeff Umansky
Project Gunyah Beach House
Location Bundeena, New South Wales
Google Location
Builder Bellavarde Constructions
Structural Engineer O’Hearn Consulting
Landscape Architect 360 degrees
Photographer Simon Kenny

Plans

via: Many thanks to Clinton Murray

Top 10 ish - Modern Residential Design - 1 year old

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:21:00 +0000

As Modern residential Design celebrates its belated birthday, I thought I bring you couple of Top 5s whilst preparing for the arrival of my second son.

Top 5 Online Architecture Compatriots

Some of the guys that give me drive & motivation to keep hunting out cool modern design.
Many thanks for the links / diggs / stumbles / emails and support guys!!

Materialicio.us

www.materialicio.us

Contemporist

www.contemporist.com

Plataforma Arquitectura

www.plataformaarquitectura.cl

Arch Daily

www.archdaily.com

Arkinetia

www.arkinetia.com

Noticias Arquitectura

www.noticiasarquitectura.info

OK, 6, it was hard to make it so short.

Hope you enjoy - new residences coming soon!

Thanks to all my loyal followers too! New content coming soon I promise!

David Hertz - Studio EA - Floating Residence

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:37:00 +0000

David Hertz - Studio EA

Floating Residence

Suspended Tetris - David Hertz has produced a number of fantastic residences and the Floating or Binder Residence in Venice, CA is no exception. It's paired back black minimalist play on volumes and floating separated masses intrigues.

Overview
The project is located on a small, 37 foot wide lot on a pedestrian only street in Venice, CA. Rather than create one solid object, David followed his residential design signature of two, two story units. The upper levels of the units seeming to float above minimal tilt up concrete walls and pillars of the lower levels. The two upper levels being attached by an open-air bridge. The larger of the structures is used as a residence while the other is used as an art studio and guest room over a garage.

The glazed panels, central to the floating effect are also large, sliding doors that conceal themselves so that the ground floor appears to be open to the exterior courtyards, thus blurring the definition of interior and exterior spaces. A large 2-story chimney wall frames the rear of the courtyard while blocking the overlooking 2-story neighbours. The exterior fireplace at the second floor flanks an outdoor sleeping porch and seating area off of the perforated breezeway bridge. Ipe, and black steel are used throughout the house to complement the Syndecrete® prefabricated concrete panels.

Walls on the first floor are intentionally held from touching the ceiling of the second floor to allow for a clear line of site over neighbouring residences and giving the illusion that the second story is floating above the first floor. These clerestory windows also bathe the lower level in light. The mass of the second floor elevations is divided into sections of positive and negative spaces that reinforce the destabilisation of the wall plane. Some of the vertical slices are specific to selective views of nearby palm trees.

A central floating stair divides the spaces and leads to a usable roof deck framed by high solid parapet walls providing privacy and strategically edited views of the distant landscape.

A continuous skylight, that opens to serve as a shaft to facilitate stack effect ventilation, frames the stairs that float from the ceiling of the second story. The exterior walls of the second story are covered in a smooth, steel trowel, integrally pigmented, stucco. These are connected seamlessly to the interior ceiling of the first floor, their continuation internally to form one single mass, further emphasises the weight of the "floating" block above.

Slideshow

Plans

via: Many thanks to Christina at Studio EA

MacGabhann Architects - Tuath na Mara Residence

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:25:00 +0000

MacGabhann Architects

Tuath na Mara Residence

Armoured Longboat - Standing vigilant over a northern Fjord in Ireland, the Tuath na Mara Residence, by MacGabhann Architects appears solid as a rock. Zinc clad for resilience, the low slung house blends seamlessly into the heather-covered rocky landscape, its own seams, echoing the strata of surrounding rocks. Contrasting a well hunkered core, the roof line warps and twists upwards like wonderful grey weathered seaweed, revealing the surrounding views to the living areas.

Overview
The project's focus around the specifics of the site and putting the personal and particular experiences above the powerful and the public, seeks to create a mood which is meditative instead of tensing or relaxing.

The site is hidden from the public road and is accessed from high ground on the landward side where the first experience is of an elevated view of the site and the sea beyond. Therefore the importance of the roof, or fifth façade, dictated a metal zinc cladding which is suitable for both walls and roof. Said façade, mimicking the seaweed found on the shores beyond. The anthracite colour of the zinc makes the building camouflage itself into the heather landscape.

The roof of both living areas is flipped and directed in opposite directions and towards particular points in the landscape and sunlight. Both living areas are fully glazed, thus embracing nature and developing a conversation with it. By way of contrast the sloped slit windows of the bedrooms act as a counter point to the absolute horizontal of the ocean horizon.

In order to emphasise the fact that the owners were embarking on a holiday each time they entered the house, the step and entry ramp at the front door is disconnected from the building thus making the visitor step over a gap not unlike stepping from the static platform onto a passing train. Thus a physical step from the day to day life into this adventurous house.

Layout
The plan form was inspired by the traditional narrow cottage and is orientated towards warm southern sun. It contains three sleeping cells and auxiliary spaces in the middle with two living areas, one at each end, connected by a library. Glazing is relative to the function of the rooms, with the centre bedrooms and auxiliary spaces horizontally glazed with small landscape framing windows, while the end living areas are wide open to the surrounding views.

The roof rain water is drained by way of gargoyles making one aware of the elements even in the lightest of showers, thus reinforcing the connection between inhabitant and nature.

Client's Comments

For us, ‘Tuath na Mara’ is wonderfully paradoxical: profoundly contextual and strikingly free-floating.

It is contextual in two senses: Firstly it speaks to the built experience of both our families, being the width of a house on the west coast that has been in the family for generations, and having the name and some of the shape of a house built by a Scottish grandparent (‘Tuath na Mara’ equally well in Scots and Irish Gaelic). Secondly it is rooted in the Donegal landscape, or more precisely in the inter-tidal seascape with which it shares its colour and, very nearly, its location. From the sea, it is virtually invisible.

But it is also free-floating, both in the way it sculpts light internally, and in the way its design is part of a cosmopolitan architectural conversation that is above national boundaries. This global-local interchange marks it out as capable of belonging only to the 21st century.

Results
MacGabhann Architects have made, as the client describes, a wonderful modern escape. With integrated reference to vernacular buildings and the landscape, without compromising aesthetics and impressive modern design, I'm confident that this is not the last we'll hear from them in great residential design.

Plans

Project: Tuath Na Mara
Architect: MacGabhann Architects
Team Credits: Tarla MacGabhann, Antoin MacGabhann, Niels Merschbrock & Barry Maguire
Completed: 2006-2007
Awards: Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Public Choice Award
Best house 2008 Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Irish Architecture Awards 2008
Photographic Credits: Dennis Gilbert - VIEW Pictures

via: MacGabhann Architects

Arkhefield - Couran Point House

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:32:00 +0000

Arkhefield

Couran Point

Island retreat - The team at Arkhefield bring us one of their latest residential wonders in form of a simple, low maintenance, sustainable living volume which can be enjoyed all year round. The motives behind the design - maximising space and privacy - are attacked head on, as are the isolation and harsh climatic conditions on the island with basic low maintenance materials. The resulting simplistic structure, appears as a coastal tree, with its roof-line shaped by the strong winds and elements. Elements from which it can hunker down further, shelter, isolate and reorientate the use of external spaces.

Overview
The house offers a stark contrast to the predominant low shacks by the way that it expresses and celebrates volume, simplicity of form and its ability to manage/manipulate the external environment. The house appears to be inspirational amongst the community with many new houses currently under construction on the island being designed and sited in a similar manner.

The house is a simple extruded profile with its form being solely dictated by town planning constraints. Height, setback and roof pitch essentially created the volumetric section which was extruded to the road and waterfront boundary, then set back to maximize the enclosed space. The house breaks out onto the terraced waterfront on the east, for summer fun and to an enclosed "winter courtyard" on the west. The relatively closed north and south façades retain privacy from the adjacent blocks, and shelter from strong summer sun.

Design
The isolation of the site put a premium on the construction cost as all materials and skilled labour had to be barged out to the island. These constraints created unique challenges and encouraged a rethink to heavy/bulky build elements that couldn't be barged out to the site. Environmentally Sustainable Design principles of orientation and sitting along with use of solar, gas, rainwater harvesting, bamboo cladding/screening and a thermally efficient monolithic floor slab were all core ideas behind the build.

Layout
The house is split in half down the centre of its length with a large double volume "communal" living space on the north and a 2 level "private" core, comprising of bedrooms and service zones, on the south. The interplay between the two halves of the house creates a sense of inclusion and encourages interaction between family and guests whilst still enabling privacy and seclusion.

Our clients desire to recreate a "Bahaman" styled beach cottage with shingled, pitched, roof and quaint shuttered windows made for a challenging brief. They wanted the house to take them back to the memorable vacations they had spent in exotic locations. Through exploration and development it became evident that decoration and themed architecture may enable brief relapses into the bygone but that intelligent design and the creation of flexible spaces stimulated communal interaction, which was what really recreated that relaxed holiday atmosphere they were seeking. They are extremely happy and are enjoying there "Contemporary Bahaman" cottage which they have aptly named "the shed" out on Stradbrooke Island.

Results
The team at Arkhefield have managed to strip back this brief to the real essence of what the client was after. Conviviality and family togetherness were the clients true request and the flexibility of the hoses and its communal spaces are what makes the house such a wonderful island retreat.

Plans

Architect: Arkhefield [AF employees] - Director, Andrew Gutteridge
Project/Design Architect: Simon Wynn
Project Team: Justin Boland, Julie Tomaszewski
Building Surveyor: Bennett & Francis
Construction completed: July 2006
Hydraulic: BRW Enterprises
Interior Designer: Arkhefield
Landscape: JW Concepts
Lighting: Arkhefield
Structural: McVeigh Consulting Engineers / Steel House Frames Australia
Structure and Frame: Steel House Frames Australia
Builder: Clarke Construction (Kelwyn Cassidy, Steven Parker)
Gross floor area: 355 m²
Project cost per square metre: Client wishes this to be kept confidential
Photography: Scott Burrows

via: Arkhefield

Shubin + Donaldson Architects - Urban Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Nick Allen) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:41:00 +0000

Shubin + Donaldson Architects

Urban Spa

Urban Spa - Shubin + Donaldson Architects have remodelled this house to soak up its Malibu shore front location. Sliding doors and windows allow the residence to be open plan or sectioned off at will. The site elements of the highway and beach challenged, and dispatched with charming results.

Program
The initial task was to renovate the original 1976 dwelling into a contemporary urban retreat, whilst adding some structural reinforcement. Bought in 2001 for it's location, the owners, together with the architects, went on to extensively remodel the house into an urban oasis. Concious efforts to negate the road behind and emphasise the beach in front are evident throughout.

Design
The overall concept for this 2,900-square-foot beach-side modern house was to transform it into an urban spa-like retreat. The house is perched along Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway, and features access to the beach at the back. Sheltering the house and providing a hard façade is the garage to the rear. As an area of transition between the street and beach, an interior entry courtyard behind the garage, laid with rectangular cement pavers and bordered by smooth river rock and tufted grasses, introduces the primary design element of the home — a seamless union between interior and exterior spaces. Through crisp linear architecture, a split level plan, and visual access throughout the house brings in the beach.

From the entry courtyard, a line of sight straight through the living room takes in the sea views. Dragging your attention away, to the left is a bay window type dining room, accented by a white grid of window panes and shadowed from the noon sun. This window grid is echoed by the geometric pattern of the cabinets and shelves that lead into the minimal kitchen. True to the open plan, the kitchen seamlessly overlooks the main living space, allowing distractions whilst cooking.

The interior design palette of natural woods and limestone, white walls and fabrics, frosted and clear plate-glass creates a crisp and airy environment to appreciate the Pacific Ocean setting. A true Urban Spa,the elements were hand picked to portray the theme of air, light, and water.

Ground-floor living room and adjacent sitting room offer shadowed relief from the sunlit terraces beyond, with cooling white and dark wood tones in the furniture and materials. Double-paned windows, which open onto the first-level terrace, offer several ways for freedom, permitting unrestricted views onto the ocean while buffering sound (from the highway).

The upstairs rooms continue the overall theme of air, light, and water with repeating materials and colours. The well-dressed master suite faces onto a second large terrace with pocket-glass doors that fold away, converting the stepped upper terrace into a sleeping porch reminiscent of designs by Schindler and Neutra (and last weeks post - David Hertz! [Image]).
For reclining on the teak chaises, billowing fabrics can be drawn above and alongside the terrace to shield the sun and wind.

With the clients goal being a boutique like retreat to entertain guests rather than as a reclusive beach getaway, opulent bright-white materials: Limestone and high gloss surfaces were used to give that crisp light filled feel. In fact, the owners found it too 'bling'. The house was cool crisp and far too full of light, with the white being overwhelming sometimes. Aware of this, Shubin + Donaldson had already incorporated exterior shutters and shades, which compensate in the southern facing rooms. Then in terms of layout, a simple North facing Media room was added with minimal windows at the rear, providing a further space to retreat in summer, and a little getaway for all.

Openness and transformation are themes throughout and are most expressive in the master bath. Cool, ocean-blue frosted glass lines the walls and windows (that face another house on these sought-after lots). Behind the glass swing doors are the toilet and shower. Three layers of floor-to-ceiling glass form a translucent door that closes the space off from the bedroom, or opens it up to the master suite, porch, and Pacific Ocean beyond. Dark wenge wood - used throughout the house as an accent - encases the tub, vanity, and spacious closets. The rich brown colour gently contrasts with the limestone counters and floors. Double mirrors are placed on poles in front of the frosted glass, rather than set into a wall. To name-drop, the tub is designed by Philippe Starck.

Layout
First level: living room, dining room, den area, terrace with beach access, powder room. Upper level: home office, guest room and bath, powder room, media room, and master suite with bathroom/walk-in closet, closet office, outdoor sleeping porch.

Plans

Architect: Shubin + Donaldson Architects - Robin Donaldson, AIA, Principal and Russell Shubin, AIA, Principal
Interiors: Audrey Alberts, interior design consultant
Commenced: 2001
Photos: Tom Bonner Photography
Article & Imagery: Courtesy - Taylor & Company (many thanks)

via: Taylor & Company

Modern Residential Design

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First Light House - The New Zealand Solar Decathlon entry 2011

Simon Winstanley Architects - The Houl House

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Murray Cockburn Partnership - Kohara Lodge

Herbst Architects - Lindale Bach

Simon Winstanley Architects - Deepstone Residence

Tennent + Brown Architects - Turn Point Lodge

Fearon Hay Architects - Sandhills Road House

Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd - Kelburn II House

Herriot + Melhuish Architecture Ltd - Waimarama House

Studio di Architettura Marco Castelletti - Casa del Masso

Clinton Murray - Gunyah Residence

Top 10 ish - Modern Residential Design - 1 year old

Top 5 Posts on Modern Residential Design

Arthur Casas - House in Iporanga

Marcio Kogan - Laranjeiras House

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Jonathan Segal - The Prospect

Top 5 Online Architecture Compatriots

Materialicio.us

Contemporist

Plataforma Arquitectura

Arch Daily

Arkinetia

Noticias Arquitectura

David Hertz - Studio EA - Floating Residence

MacGabhann Architects - Tuath na Mara Residence

Arkhefield - Couran Point House

Shubin + Donaldson Architects - Urban Spa