banner

The design parameters were to create a three bedroom house to cater for a significant collection of NZ Modern Art and provide a lift, as the retired couple plan to live here for a good many years. With the north facing site, the house is arranged around living spaces that in turn create protected east and west courtyards and a north deck that connects to the front lawn. The main living space stretches across the site, allowing every opportunity to be open to the outdoors, although still protected from seasonal wind patterns.

The form of the building is defined by the three main materials; copper, bagged brick and horizontal weather boards. These materials combine to create a collection of two boxes and a pavilion roof that “hovers” over three (two storey high) brick wall elements. The copper box relates to the garage and guest wing, while the pavilion connects with the primary living spaces.

The bagged brick walls are also laid in a random offset, creating further texture to these large walls whose primary purpose is to furnish the art collection.

This random patterning also occurs in the wood flooring, exterior horizontal weather board cladding and the exterior vertical copper panels. The random copper paneling enables the most economic use of the pre patinated coil. Varying the copper width was also a method to navigate the window and door placement.

The jetty is another element that assists in organizing the house. From the entry lobby the flooring is orientated to set out the starting point of the jetty that extends out over the cliff and into Hobson Bay (16m long).The jetty is a combination of heavy hardwood planks , stainless rigging and exposed painted steel post and beam structure.

Passive solar design principles such as concrete brick mass walls, a 260mm air blanket under the ground floor slab, extensive roof protection, external solar blinds, automatic purging windows and double glazing are all featured in this house, as well as a simple venting louver widow in every living space.

The upper floor bedroom and living space is divided into Guest and Main wing. These areas are separated by two large pivot doors. The spaces are organized in served and servant spaces. Hence the main living room roof is 3.3m where the bedroom ceilings step down to 2.7m.

Innovation:
Other construction innovation applied to this building are;
The floating Cupolex concrete floor slab structure. This allows an air space between the ground and the slab, for thermal insulation and running services.
Beams with “sky hooks”. Two large beams are picked up by a beam and dropper post at a higher level, giving the appearance of weightlessness and a continuity of exposed channels adjacent to the Aluminium joinery.
Co-coordinated steel work that acts as a sill flashing and an extensive effort to integrated the Aluminium double glazed sliding doors, gives the appearance of large curtain walled portions of the building. These areas of glass are balanced by equally large rugged walls of bagged block that create large 6m high hanging spaces.
Latest technology exterior solar blinds with automated retract sensors have been commissioned.

Malcolm Taylor Architects
Auckland
Get in touch
Visit Website
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House
Clifftop House

About the
Professional

  • Projects published
  • Recent Responsiveness

    50%

    Usually responds within
    2 days on weekdays

Creating Ongoing Joyful Experiences.

We believe in the pursuit of the craft of architecture and building. The process of creating the built environment is very rewarding and a successful project can largely be attributed to a committed and highly communicative team of the client/contractor/architect.

Malcolm Taylor and Associates work from the casual, relaxed environment of a 1960's converted church in the eastern suburbs, providing an excellent atmosphere for creative endeavour. This is a working example of a revitalised building with “soul” and a newfound function demonstrating the way we approach restoration work. We have a dedicated team of Architects striving for excellence, ingenuity and integrity.   

The process of “making” is reflected in the way we design, communicate, model and document, as well as how our buildings "go together". Building technology and materials are more often than not a catalyst to defining the building program, whether this is related to colour, texture, context or performance criteria. All of these chosen elements have an undertone of sustainable effectiveness and we readily discuss such directions with clients as they arise in each project evolution.

Malcolm Taylor Architects has been published regularly, showing a highly capable range of skills within the retail sector, educational buildings, commercial building refurbishment, commercial interiors, furniture design, residential and apartment buildings. We now have clients throughout Australasia and enjoy applying our design discipline to a variety of different environments.   

We have an intuitive, yet functional approach to each project, with a broad range of awards from differing categories of the built environment. Many of these projects start with a re-evaluation of typology and appropriateness, leading to a solution not often expected. Success with an NZIA Supreme Award for a house on the Auckland West Coast is a testament to the level of excellence we offer our clients. This is the highest award received within the NZIA.