Bossley Architects

White House

White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds

WHITE HOUSE

Bossley Architects

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Auckland, New Zealand

AREA
488 m²

YEAR
2016

PHOTOGRAPHS
Patrick Reynolds

MANUFACTURERS
Domo, Matisse

ENGINEERING
Brown & Thompson

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Pete Bossley, Finn Scott, Lynley Millar

Text description provided by architect.

The house is designed as a progression of spaces which move from the south-facing entry towards the north-facing living areas, which open out dramatically to the sea, Rangitoto Island and Takapuna Beach.

White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds

A wall clad in vertical cedar boards greets the visitor outside the building, beginning as a fence on the left then morphing seamlessly into the exterior cladding.

This surface of timber curves in towards the entry, then flows under a distinctive circular skylight above the front door, into the entry space.

The cedar then flips to the right-hand side, continues along the gallery space and curves around to the right, to reinforce the opening out towards the view and add drama to the expansiveness of the experience.

White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds

The clients requested a very warm house, so the upper level of the house has two parallel skylights which bring light and afternoon sun into the living areas and upper bedrooms.

White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds

These skylights peel up from the flat roof and are lined with beautifully curving poplar plywood panels which float just under the white ceilings with a hidden strip of lighting for night time drama.

White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds

A stair of sculpted laminated stair treads suspended from rods leads down to the beach and the lower level lounge, bedrooms and home theatre.

The palette of timber and natural light creates a warm and comfortable interior which contrast with the sleek exterior of white pre-coloured fibre cement. The interiors play a supportive role to the fantastic context and the ever-changing colours of the sea and sky.

There are no terraces facing the sea: wide sliding doors enable the main living areas to feel like a verandah. The western terrace receives evening sun and is cut into the form of the building to offer protection from the sea breezes.

White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds
White House
© Patrick Reynolds

An external canopy intended for this western terrace has not yet been installed as the clients were keen to wait and see if they want it.


White House
Floor plan
White House
Floor plan


White House
Elevations
White House
Elevations


White House
Sections

Bossley Architects
T +64 9 3612201
Bossley Architects
2/55 Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand