Otumoetai House

The brief was to create a responsible, modest home nestled within a small steep site to be an oasis connected to nature in the midst of suburbia. Private from the street, the home opens up along strategic axes, revealing views of the harbour. Surrounded by towering trees, the building becomes one with its environment, offering an experience of living among the trees. The house pays homage to the site’s rural past through referencing the red shed vernacular. Despite its modest footprint, the home exudes a sense of spaciousness and intimacy. Varying ceiling heights create a dynamic interplay of volumes. Carefully selected materials create fragrant, tactile and choreographed auditory environments that engage strongly with the sensory needs of the couple’s two neurodiverse children.