Pacific House by Julian Guthrie Architecture

Pacific House

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The Pacific House is located on the ocean front north of Auckland, in a harsh sand dune environment. The brief was for a large family holiday home for the immediate family and their guests providing both shared and private zones. The house is designed as series of four separate pavilions, with glazed links enabling internal access, but also encouraging connections across the outdoor courtyards in an informal manner. While predominantly single level, one pavilion has an upper level retreat suite, while another contains media and wellness rooms concealed below ground level. The form of the building contrasts the heft of board-formed concrete, counterbalancing the delicacy of extensive glass walls and sliding doors. The rooves are expressed as crisp metallic prisms, with varying geometries evoking nearby wind-blown sand dunes. Dramatic cantilevered rooves create sheltered terraces spaces below, with doors sliding into concealed pockets to merge the inside and outside spaces. A muted palette of exposed concrete, limestone and bleached oak work in harmony with the sand and driftwood setting, nestled into the pine forest backdrop. Photography by: Simon Wilson

The Pacific House is located on the ocean front north of Auckland, in a harsh sand dune environment. Read more

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“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