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Muriwai House

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The Muriwai house is a weekend house used by a couple throughout the year as an escape from their urban working lives, located on a steep site perched above the ocean and Muriwai beach. Read more
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Muriwai House: A weekend retreat perched above Muriwai beach, designed to harmonize with its dramatic coastal surroundings while offering stunning ocean views and a variety of spatial experiences.

The Muriwai house is a weekend house used by a couple throughout the year as an escape from their urban working lives, located on a steep site perched above the ocean and Muriwai beach. The house is placed at the cliff edge to capture the dramatic views. The site is very exposed and so the building form mimics the surrounding windblown manuka trees and weathered cliffs.

The living areas present a glass face to the ocean, anchored by a massive in situ wall bracing against fierce southerly storms. The northern glass wall opens seamlessly to a sheltered exterior deck. Bedrooms are set away from the edge and hug into the hillside, stepping up and away capturing views from each room and giving a sense of separate cabins.

The compact house provides an array of spatial experiences, from precipitousness at the edge to envelopment at the rear, with corresponding undulations in volume.

Photography by Patrick Reynolds

0h 1m

Professional Reviews

1 / 5

“We have been clients of Julian Guthrie for approximately 20 years, within which period of time he has designed both renovations and new homes for us. The briefs have all been very different (including a new home, new beach house, and major renovation). Without exception, the results have all exceeded our expectations. Throughout the foregoing projects, Julian has also played an integral role in the management of planning requirements, and in the case of our home in Herne Bay, that process involved the complexity of obtaining consents to incorporate a character villa with additions that complemented the original home. His advice through that process, in addition to the design undertaken by him, was invaluable. In terms of that design work, we have no reservation in recommending Julian. He is an excellent communicator, and very skilled at translating a brief from a husband and wife (who do no always agree) into an outcome with which we have both been very happy. Our homes are personal to us, but undoubtedly a testament to Julian’s skills. Julian was also retained by my law firm to re-design and refit our offices. The offices are located in a challenging heritage building in the central business district. He had to take on board a number of individuals’ and personalities’ requirements in the brief. The end product, achieved in a very short duration, on budget, is outstanding. His relationship with the contractors on site was very good, all issues being resolved between them, with little input from us as clients in that process. That was of enormous value to us as busy professionals. We therefore have no hesitation in recommending Julian Guthrie and his team.”

Stephen Langton

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