It’s not often that a home is designed both around a tree on site and in imitation of the same tree. But this stunning Mangawhai coastal home honours the ancient puriri on site – with its rangy limbs and prolific red flowers.

The property was initially covered in bush, but it was decided to retain the ancient puriri and derive design inspiration for the build from it. It means that the home stretches out like the tree, emulating those limbs with a design that takes in jaw-dropping cantilevers.

“The home sits very close to the edge of a steep cliff and borders a bush area, and was designed to capture the coastal views and snippets of that puriri tree from as many aspects as possible throughout the house,” says Smith Construction’s Nick Smith.

The cantilevered design and cliff site meant that structurally there was a huge amount of work involved. Not just in the foundations, but in the home’s steel structure, which features a cantilevered living space and cantilevered master bedroom with observation deck.

The exposed hilltop site also meant that the construction of the cantilevers had to be carefully considered so that they wouldn't shake during high winds.

“Deep foundations and diagonal steel posts have been used to support and stabilise the cantilevers,” says Nick.

The multiple cantilevers play directly into the aesthetic of mid-century architecture, which was a key pillar of the client’s brief.

To reflect this aesthetic, a thin, flat roofline was designed.

“That created challenges; to create that very thin steel structured roof was complicated; we used a Nuralite warm roof which is insulated above the plywood structure,” says Nick.

The slim roofline is repeated in a narrow fascia in the mid-floor panel system, which creates an elegant mid-century symmetry to the home.

At the base of the home sits a double garage, with entry up to the home, so that guests feel as if they’re climbing up into the centre of a hollowed out tree.

The home is separated into two wings, which are joined by a central living, dining, and kitchen space. In one wing sits the master suite and media room/study, while the other is designed for guests, with two bedrooms, walk-in robe, and a shared bathroom.

A glazed hallway between the two showcases a spacious outdoor living area with access to one of the two tiled fireplaces whose chimneys form part of the structure of the home.

Impressively, the master suite juts out 4.5 metres and the cantilever cleverly conceals the home’s utilities underneath.

The master also provided a nice surprise for the owners.

“When the clients designed the home, they knew they would have coastal views from Bream Head to the Coromandel, but they got a little surprise with their master bedroom, which has captured a different and equally stunning view through pocket windows over Bream Bay and Whangarei Heads.”

The interior materiality reflects the bush setting with biophilic references.

“Although structurally there was a lot of steel work, the interior features a lot of timber including oak flooring, oak ceiling and beech and cedar screens when you come in, which hide the stairwell.”

Aside from these strong timber elements, there are very few walls inside the home and instead, a lot of internal glazing so that there are unobstructed views right throughout.

The IMO steel kitchen provides a dramatic contrast to the glass and timber elements.

“The matte black steel kitchen fits seamlessly into the layout, and the use of integrated appliances create a minimalist look. The porcelain and oak island top connect with the finishes used within the house.”

Nick says detailing was crucial in the successful outcome of the build and his favourite feature of the home is the cantilevered forms.

“It’s a very impressive home, with a clean mid-century aesthetic that required strong attention to detail, and from certain views it looks like it's floating.”

Words: Jo Seton

House of the Year Regional Awards Won - Regional Gold