Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 32 No 6 New Zealand | Page 11
As we become increasingly aware of the
negative effects our actions can have on our
world, many of us are responding by wanting homes that ‘sit lightly on the land’.
It’s a phrase that can encompass a
number of architectural aspects – and many
of those were integral to the design of this
new home by Abramson Teiger Architects.
Design principal Trevor Abramson
says the primary goal of the project was to
craft a maintenance-free home that suited
the owners’ active lifestyle while respecting the natural habitat.
“It’s a beautiful site that looks out over
a protected nature preserve down to the
valley, with mountain views beyond – so it
could never be built out,” says Abramson.
But it did come with zoning restrictions – it needed to be secluded from the
ridgeline and hidden from the valley floor
below. This, combined with the aim to
maximise views, determined the position
of the house on the site and its layout.
“Also, the owners’ request to have no
stairs, despite the sloping site, meant the
house would have quite a large footprint.”
Previous pages: To meet the owners’ request for a
maintenance-free home, Abramson Teiger Architects
specified Corten steel panels and concrete, plus a
zinc roof. The guest wing – seen here on the left
– is raised on concrete columns to minimise the
building’s footprint on the site.
Facing page: Concrete is the predominant interior
material, forming the walls and floors, but is
softened by stained grey Douglas fir ceilings.
Above: Roll down blinds are housed in slots
between concrete walls and the wood ceiling,
providing privacy and sun shade when required.
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