Daniels Reef Lookout

In his 20s our client surfed the break at Daniels reef looking up at the surrounding land and dreaming of living on it, 35 years later he has created his home here. The large and irregularly shaped site slopes steeply toward the south, where a small stream crosses through its centre. Underlain by alternating siltstone and volcanic shattered sandstone, the top soil undulates and flows around rock ridges. Ancient Pohutukawa trees form the southern boundary clinging tenaciously to the cliffs, cantilevering out into space. These contextual parameters generated the building form, a home to be experienced as a series of journeys and discoveries with strong connections to the reef. The home elongates across the site, low slung and stepped with the land. The informal entry options and transparency of the envelope invite people to flow inside from the north or down the eastern side. The views are carefully curated throughout the home, shuttered in some areas and picture framed in others, the interior journey culminating in the living area with a soaring deck, providing a feeling of floating into the landscape. Moving in and through the home the journey continues along a planted stone path and landscaped causeway, bridging the stream, ending in a cliff walk down to the reef.