Kārearea House | Falcon's Fold

This house sits in the tussock lands of the alpine region of the South Island of NZ, the natural habitat of the Kārearea. They lay the eggs typically into a simple scrape on the ground and they are fiercely protective of them. When on the ground their colouring and form camouflage them well into the landscape. Their wings fold over their young to hide and protect them.

This became an appropriate narrative to guide the arrangement of the program for this family house. But firstly, the plan has been arranged on the site with living to the north and the west to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the snowy views to the west, with the sleeping programme stretching along the southern edge of the site, where it is cooler, quieter with beautiful southern mountain views. Connecting these 2 wings is the more informal programme of kitchen and indoor/outdoor dining and sitting, facing east and west respectively. So, there is a morning side and an evening side to the house.
The roof becomes a folding wing-like shelter that enfolds the programme as a singular house resting in the landscape. Materials are literally, of the landscape with tones and hues that connect with the tussock lands.