Architecture Bureau Ltd.

Screened by Pohutukawa

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson

SCREENED BY POHUTUKAWA

Architecture Bureau

PHOTOGRAPHS
Kjell Nilsson

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Tauranga, New Zealand

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

Situated on a secluded site within the busy metropolis of Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, this holiday home is sheltered behind a magnificent pohutukawa tree and one of the few original beach cottages remaining along the beach.

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson

The key objective of the brief was to produce a new home that provided greater flexibility for extended family holidays but was still reminiscent of the spirit and character of simple, relaxed, laid back holiday living currently experienced when the family use the original cottage.

The primary approach to this proposition was to design a single bedroom holiday home with the bedroom and open plan living area orientated towards the ocean view and the sun.

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson

However, the design of the home also discretely provides three additional sleeping areas for additional family and guests that does not intrude on the sense of the simple one bedroom holiday home.

The four bedroom holiday home was developed within a compact 135 sq metre rectangular plan, lifted out of the site to embrace natural light and to enhance views of the Pacific Ocean.

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson

Unlike the surrounding homes, the design of this home is intentionally relaxed and holiday-like, there is no front entry, the living area is open to the outside, and like camping, experiences of everyday activities are connected to the outdoors.

A sheltered outdoor living area is formed between the new home and the cottage where family and friends can meet to share in conversation and social occasions.

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson

Products and materials have been specifically chosen to reflect a simple and relaxed, yet highly refined and sustainable home.

For example, painted plywood cladding contrasts with sophisticated sliding aluminium louvre panels, with insect mesh, used for private sleeping areas.

When open, these panels provide light and connection to the outdoors, when closed the panels provide privacy from closely located neighbours, security when the home is not vacant and secure passive ventilation to sleeping areas during long hot summer nights.

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson

When open, these panels provide light and connection to the outdoors, when closed the panels provide privacy from closely located neighbours, security when the home is not vacant and secure passive ventilation to sleeping areas during long hot summer nights.

The home has exceeded the owner’s expectations and as a measure of the success of the project, the owner’s have recently moved to their holiday home permanently.

Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson
Screened by Pohutukawa
© Kjell Nilsson


Screened by Pohutukawa
Plan
Screened by Pohutukawa
Plan
Screened by Pohutukawa
Plan

Architecture Bureau Ltd.
T +64 7 9499095
Architecture Bureau Ltd.
113a Collingwood Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand