This hillside property was imagined to be as open as the outdoors, it was created as a research on “the way landscape may be inhabited”. Designed by Glamuzina Paterson Architects, the residence known as the Brick Bay House is located in Snells Beach, New Zealand, on a hillside defined by rural scenery. Reminiscent of farm buildings around through its elegant and modest architecture, this house is a dream home to its inhabitants, a family of five.
Besides an extensive use of glazing flooding the spaces with natural light, details like the nest-reminiscent lamps, bringing nature inside and creating a comfort zone seamlessly connected to the outdoors. The use of wood both inside and out ties them together, while the L-shaped floor plan shelters and creates a barrier of privacy.
“The house negotiates the contours of the site with the private areas staggering down the hill to the south, creating a courtyard, and providing protection. The L plan forms a barrier to the road above on the south west boundary, blocking noise and giving privacy. The north deck opens to the east and west allowing afternoon sun to penetrate the living areas. The open plan living areas under the gable roof have porch enclosures to north and east that frame views to Kawau Bay.
The facade of Macrocarpa board and batten wraps the house with a beautifully textured grain that gives a natural warmth to the façade, registering time as its colour changes. The louvered frame to the walkway gallery provides shade in the summer and protection in the winter. The environmental benefits of timber was vital to the project, with timber being locally sourced and milled in small runs from Riverhead shelterbelt trees. Waste was dealt with on site with sawdust used for the garden and farm, and off-cuts for firewood and furniture.”
