Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 31 No 12 New Zealand | Page 17

of energy through the house, the main axis is
defined by a long staircase that steps up the hill,
echoing the width of the entry opposite.
“The windows cast patterned shadows, so
even the stairs are a piece of art,” says Swatt.
“However, they also function as a thermal chimney. Warm air rises up through the house and is
vented through a glass panel that can be opened
at the top of the stairwell. At night, the thermal
mass of the concrete wall beside the stairs radiates heat to warm the house.”
Other exposed materials in the house
include large steel columns in the great room.

The raw concrete and steel are contrasted by a
glossy, auto-paint finish on the island. To maintain the sleek lines of the great room, there are
two kitchens – one behind the scenes for food
preparation and one for serving and hospitality.
The great room opens up to a large terrace and a 22m-long pool that laps up against
the house. With three infinity edges, the pool
appears to merge with the landscape beyond.
Here again, the architecture pays homage
to artistic expression. An architectural steel
canopy, painted bright blue, marks the passage
of the sun with changing elliptical shadows.

Above: Swatt Miers Architects
designed the freestanding blue steel
shade canopy beside the pool, which
laps up against the house. The pool
is perpendicular to the main axis
of the building. The linear look of
the landscaping is reinforced by the
timber decking and concrete wall,
and by the vertical tower element.
Timber screens on the tower disguise
different-sized windows in the rooms
behind.

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