Context
Sited in Auckland's inner city suburb of Parnell, the Nikau House is the first of a newly developed subdivision; the conception of private and responsive spaces for the client, a semi-retired couple was essential for conceived future conditions as well as ensuring that existing aspects of the site were acknowledged.

Design
The clients wanted a light, airy Scandinavian modernist design aesthetic in a house that could easily accommodate visitors and family when they come to stay. The challenge lay in creating an innovative design within a tight urban context whilst still providing privacy, amenity and quality of indoor and outdoor space on a small site. A key consideration was providing ample wall space to display the couple's art collection and feature shelving to store their books.

The building steps with the site's natural contour, creating over height spaces to the West, and allowing for the library's tall shelving wall. Considered placement of windows frame the views to the lush green bush gully, existing Nikau palms and the Waitemata Harbour to the North. The Zincalume trapezoidal roofing wraps around the structure to form the Eastern wall - combined with slatted exterior timber screens to provide further privacy from future developments.

An intrinsic approach to sustainable design is demonstrated in the garden and solar water systems, thermal mass and cross-ventilated spaces. Timber decking is used internally to create a floor that breathes, this combined with internal timber louvres in the upper level bedrooms creates convection airflow to passively heat and cool the home. The slatted screens also act as shading devices, helping to regulate the internal temperatures - casting patterns of shadow on the sunlit interior spaces.

Materials have been selected for durability and a refined aesthetic. The timber and light colour palette reference Scandinavian design and provide a backdrop to emphasise the bold modern art collection. The result for the satisfied clients is a serene, quiet urban retreat with an understated luxury.

Photographer
Jackie Meiring

NZIA LOCAL AWARD (Auckland) 2013 – HOUSING
“Behind the cloak of the Zincalume façade shielding this property from future development to the east, a delightful house is revealed. From the gracious double-height entry lobby to the set-down library area this home has a series of inviting spaces. Warm, light and welcoming, the design is passively responsive to the environment with carefully considered placement of thermal mass and cross ventilation.” (Jury Citation)

NZIA LOCAL AWARD (Auckland) 2013 – SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
“This light airy house on a tight urban site effortlessly integrates sustainable design elements to create a serene and luxurious interior while passively responding to its environment. The fundamentals of solar water heating, solar shading and exposed thermal mass are incorporated, but the true innovation is in the customised ventilation solution in which timber decking and louvres are used internally to create convection airflow which passively heats and cools the house.” (Jury Citation)