By Pacific Environments Architects
The Matakana house is located on a prominent headland location that offers unsurpassed gulf and harbour views to Kawau Island and beyond. Two pavilions (living and sleeping) are constructed from concrete, steel and glass, and open out onto the rugged Matakana coastline. This pavilion concept is based around ‘tents’ and a ‘campfire’ with the bedrooms opening up to a sunken communal space with fireplace. Large sliding doors open this space to the grassed lawn and connect with the stunning environment.
Polished concrete aggregates, texture and patterning – contrasting, solidity and enduring. Neutral interiors provide an inviting backdrop, native timbers salvaged from the seashore, eclectic collections personalising and connecting to the heart. Splashes of red – from New Zealand’s native pacific pohutukawa tree – represents the Christmas flower of joy and celebration - a client favourite.
Originally briefed as a weekend retreat, the energy of the home has enticed the owners to move in permanently. Happy holidays!
Pacific Environments Architects is an environmentally focused architectural & urban design practice working towards the best outcomes for people, place and community.
With over 60 years experience, our portfolio showcases a diverse range of projects – master planning and urban design, civic and community centres, commercial buildings, retirement villages, large and small-scale residential, community housing, education facilities, sports and leisure and resort projects.
Whatever the size of your project, we have specialists from our team of 40+ that can guide you through the design process. We support our services with a clear and cohesive design process. From briefing to project completion, including pre-purchase feasibility, site selection and contract administration, our goal is to provide an easy-to-follow and enjoyable experience.
An underlying philosophy at Pacific Environments is to promote environmentally sustainable and regenerative design. We believe that designing physical objects, the built environment and associated infrastructure to comply with the principles of social, economic and ecological sustainability are core to a constantly regenerating and self-sustaining ecosystem. Pacific Environments were early to adopt environmentally sustainable processes and methodologies in the practice, and were one of the founding signatories of New Zealand Architects Declare. As such, we are committed to strengthening our working practices to create architecture and urbanism that has a more positive impact on the world around us. We have recently joined Toitu Envirocare and are working towards becoming a certified carbon zero company by 2023.
The Pacific Environments team genuinely love what they do, our positive, energetic and ‘hands on’ approach along with a focus on understanding our clients’ needs means that we deliver tailored solutions, not generic answers.