Excerpt: Tai Tapu House is a residence designed by the architectural firm AW Architects. Upon arrival at the site, one winds through the countryside, and the first glimpse of the building is of a bold sculptural statement. The positioning of the building was carefully considered, and saw the forms nestled into the landform, sympathetically responding to the existing contours.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by the Architects] The Tai Tapu house is situated on a west-facing hill on the lower slopes of the Port Hills, falling within the Outstanding Natural Landscape zone, and was subject to a rigorous resource consent process regarding its visual impact.
Upon arrival at the site, one winds through the countryside, and the first glimpse of the building is of a bold sculptural statement. The positioning of the building was carefully considered, and saw the forms nestled into the landform, sympathetically responding to the existing contours.
The material palette emphasises this sculptural form – a slick black wedge with areas of relief cut into it – in a white—any areas where the landforms are retained, a plaster wall ramps into the broader landscape. Timber decking and flooring bring warmth to the spaces and act to unify.
The landscaping will (over time) grow up to the building and help this further assimilate into the surroundings. The planning of the house sees visitors arrive at Ground Floor Level, where a mudroom, laundry and guest facilities are located. On the First Floor, a corridor extends down the Eastern wall – with Bedrooms to the South and opening up to the North with an Open Plan kitchen/ dining & living.
Outdoor living is provided to combat the various winds on-site. A sheltered courtyard wraps around the North and East end of the building, with a covered deck to the West. The large sliding doors to the patio open the space to feel like an outdoor continuation of the living area. Dramatic views out over the plains and, more immediately, of the neighbouring hills are found in all directions.
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