By Glamuzina Architects
The house borrows from its existing context, re-purposing the historical tropes of the suburbs, crossing them with a contemporary plan that connects to the exterior edges of the site. A large front yard expresses an optimistic outlook to the street, a reference to the supplanted state house.
The brief went beyond the typical 3 bedroom house, including an office, pottery studio, kids playroom and a popup mezzanine that is connected to the master bedroom by a movable ladder, a space for escape with a view across the rooftops.
Flood plains, and aggressive boundary height issues dictate the need for a single storey dwelling on the site; Instead of going up we created an expansive single level house. The new house appropriates the original location of the state house creating an oversized front yard which leads into a dense perforated plan at the rear of the site.
The front of the house is ‘villa like’ with a deep set porch and central entry flanked by the living room and office. From the entry you are led into a large central hallway spanning the length of the house linking with a progression of discrete living spaces. An ‘urban court’ separates the living room from kitchen and dining, forming a broken plan, separated yet interconnected through the courtyard and hallway. The bedrooms at the rear open into a compressed courtyard with stepped planters leading to the rear boundary. The garage is relegated to the southern boundary, and connects through to the house with a small studio facing the rear courtyard.
Photographer: Sam Hartnett
Glamuzina Architects is an Auckland based practice established in 2014. We strive to produce architecture that is crafted, contextual and clever. Rather than seeking a particular outcome we value a design process that is collaborative, critical and rigorous.
When designing we look to the context of a project beyond just its immediate physical location to the social, political, historical and economic conditions of place. This results in architecture that is uniquely tailored to the context it sits within.
We work on many different types of projects across a range of scales; from small interiors to large public buildings. Regardless of a project's budget we always prefer to work smart, using a creative mix of materials, light and volume in preference to elaborate finishes or complex detailing.
Our designs have been recognised for their excellence and innovation, winning many national and local awards including two New Zealand Architecture Awards in 2013 for S House and Lake Hawea Courtyard House.