Aw Architects

Tai Tapu House

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen

TAI TAPU HOUSE

AW Architects

ARCHITECTS
AW Architects

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Andrew Watson

 CONTRACTOR
Avon Dickie Construction

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Quoin

 LIGHTING DESIGNER
Jane Purdue

COLLABORATOR
Richard Melton

MANUFACTURERS
APL NZ, Caesarstone, Pacific Build Supply NZ, Plytech, Listen Giordano Engineered

PHOTOGRAPHS
Marc Scowen, Baptiste Marconnet

AREA
340.0 m2

YEAR
2018

LOCATION
Tai Tapu, New Zealand

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

The Tai Tapu house is situated on a west facing hill on the lower slopes of the port hills, about 5kms out of Tai Tapu.

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen

The site is within the Outstanding Natural Landscape zone and was subject to a rigors resource consent process in regards to its visual impact.

The house is sited to stretch contour to contour in a north-south direction, with the main aspect facing west.

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen

The building is nestled into the land, bunkering in allowing the prevailing easterly wind to roll over the top of the house.

Landscape walls grow from the contours to create the lower garage and driveway level, with the main form over.

Upper-level landscape walls create a shelter external courtyard as protection from the north-west wind.

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen

The material palette emphasizes the sculptural form – a slick black wedge of Swiss Pearl expressed panels, with has areas of relief cut into it in monolithic white.

The retaining walls are treated in a monolithic natural plaster rising out of the landscape. Timber decking and flooring brings warmth to the material palette.

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen

The landscaping is purposefully raw, with little planting. As the natural grass grows back it will be basically managed to allow the house to seat into the environment.

The house is planned to create a sense of arrival at the ground floor level, with the practicality of a mudroom and coats store with seating provided for amenity.

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen

The stairs are orientated to offer the dramatic west view as you rise to the first floor.

On the first floor, a corridor extends down the eastern wall – with bedrooms to the south and opening to the north with open plan kitchen/ dining & living. The house forms frame views to the south (from master bedroom) and west (from dining living).

Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen


Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen
Tai Tapu House
© Marc Scowen


Tai Tapu House
East Elevation
Tai Tapu House
West Elevation
Tai Tapu House
South Elevation
Tai Tapu House
North Elevation


Tai Tapu House
Ground Floor Plan
Tai Tapu House
First Floor Plan

Aw Architects
T +64 3 3900488
Aw Architects
190 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand