Monaco House Matāihi Rua

SHORTLISTED - NZIA Nelson Marlborough Branch Local Architecture Awards 2023 Briefed with a respectful wish for privacy, our challenge was to provide a sheltered haven overlooking the Waimea Inlet while retaining the small scale of the Monaco vernacular. A private oasis in a developed suburban neighbourhood, Te Matāihi Rua was envisioned as a collection of small gable forms linked by protected courtyards and covered walkways. The rotated forms and arrangement down the site conceals the scale of the development. The welcoming but private entry also provides the opportunity to draw visitors through to the main living space, with the view visible through the full depth of the home upon entering the front door. Extensive landscaping has allowed the home to nestle into the site and enhance the sense of privacy.  The house program is designed around being primarily occupied by the couple only, while the study, guest bed and bathroom are quietly concealed in the entry wing, easily passed without notice as occupants are drawn to the sun streaming in through the glazed linkway. Designed during the first Covid lockdowns and built through the second, Te Matāihi Rua welcomed the client home in early 2022, a peaceful retreat that has successfully allowed the client to downsize to a more manageable, easily maintained and accessible home on the peninsula.