Takahē House

Read ArchiPro's article about this project here. An exposed, blustery site on the edge of an rugged coast may not be everyone's ideal location, but for one couple on the verge of retirement, the opportunity to create a liveable tribute to this extraordinary setting on the Kāpiti Coast was too great to pass up. With a panorama ocean outlook to Kapiti Island , the home shares a boundary with a protected coastal reserve, teeming with a biodiverse ecosystem made up of thousands of unique animal, insect and plant species not found further inland. The brief demanded a built response that acknowledged the spirit of the place – an architecture that seemed to grow from the ground. Much like a piece of driftwood swept up onto sand, long last at voyage's end, the home settles on the site with a restful ease. A refuge from the biting nor westerly winds, durable exterior materials protect a warm, relaxed interior. A taught skin of cedar wraps the exterior of the house and extends into the interior spaces to reinforce the seamless inside/outside living connection. A central ‘Boardwalk’ extends through the house connecting all interior spaces to a sheltered courtyard within the heart of the house. House and boatshed are organically arranged around a low lying sand dune creating a settlement of forms. Gable roofs and strong geometric forms mirror the backdrop of angular hills and nest the house to its place. Photography by Paul McCredie