Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 31 No 12 New Zealand | Page 13

mahogany, and designed to set up a visual
rhythm on the side of the building. Mahogany
also defines the horizontal roof planes that
extend from the inside to the outside.
“The house is anchored by a solid concrete
core that climbs to more than 9m in places, and
by a series of blade walls that run right through
the house and out into the landscape,” says
Swatt. “Visually, the 9m concrete tower is the
single anchoring element for the entire building.
The timber slats on the tower disguise the variation in the size of the windows behind.”
Compared to the rest of the building, the

Above: Conceived as a work of
art in itself, the house creates
a contemporary gallery for the
owners’ extensive art collection.
The double-height open-plan living
space is screened from the front
entry by a row of stainless steel
slats. The screen provides a degree
of privacy, while heightening a sense
of anticipation.
Left: A pivoting orange-glass front
door with stainless steel hardware
was custom built for the project.

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