Longbush House

This deceptively simple award-winning house lies at the centre of a 15 year regeneration project focused on the protection of native plants and birds. Although just a ten minute drive from Gisborne, the property is “off the grid”, and relies on solar power and water heating, with gas and wetback boost. A separate garage contains battery bank and generator. The siting of the two building elements on an east-west axis was designed to maximise solar gain and was further constrained by the desire to preserve two archaeological features recalling traditional (pre-European contact) use of the land. Construction combines a Hebel block solid enclosing wall to the south, incorporating small steel windows, and a more open face to the north, featuring large timber windows and sliding timber doors, opening onto a timber deck and concrete terrace to capture sun and embrace panoramic views up the valleys to the north and west. The internal form of the house is what the architect describes as “one room on two levels, connected by a void”, providing living, dining, kitchen and laundry at ground level and bedroom with separate bathroom on the upper level, all within a building footprint of just 64m2.