Te Hinaki
By Crosson Architects
This project presented with an unusual site in an estuary context. Situated right on the harbour edge, the site borders an ancient Maori kai moana area which was reclaimed last century for farmland. The wetland origin of the site, which confers a unique environmental quality combined with uncertain ground conditions, became a strong indicator for the design direction. It is a harsh marine environment where salt, wind and sun exact a toll on land and materials.
The architecture of this project takes as a metaphor the form and materials of the maori hinaki which was frequently used in this sort of harbour environment. The hinaki is an ancient maori eel trap, with an intricately woven basket at the end of a narrow colonnade of vertical sticks planted in the mud and sand to direct eels towards the basket.
Timber was used as a building material for the project, left to weather on the exterior to reflect the colours of the natural environment, and in the interior providing a warm and welcoming colour palette which expresses the idea of ‘home’. It also acts as a forgiving material for structure and cladding which can take up and distribute movement in the underlying ground plane.
The form and structure of the house reflect the hinaki, with the narrow footprint allowing maximum appreciation of northern views and sun. A colonnade of posts makes up the external structure or exoskeleton, with the linear plan directing the inhabitant towards an exquisitely lined and detailed music room housing a grand piano proudly owned and played by the clients
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Te Hinaki
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Crosson Architects is an Auckland based architectural practice with an exceptional portfolio of work. Past projects include residential, commercial, institutional, masterplanning and urban design developments. Ken Crosson and his team have won numerous architectural awards locally and internationally with work being regularly published here and around the world.
Our commitment to providing a superior service to our clients is extended with membership in Designgroup New Zealand, enabling larger scale projects to be undertaken, drawing on a range of resources and expertise from partnering practices. We strive for the highest standards of client service, design and documentation. At the completion of each project, the aim is to have achieved a building that is beyond the client's expectations. We believe good design will produce sustainable, functional and dramatic spaces and buildings that have an enduring quality over time.
Each project is analysed for its special requirements and opportunities: the end result being not a preconceived idea, but a combination of the client's requirements and desires, a response to the site and the budget. Critical consideration is given to the project's specific environmental and historical context, and to the appropriate use of materials and construction methods.
At the heart of the process is the collaboration between the client and the architect. At Crosson Architects we create – and the process is vigorous and robust, rich and rewarding. Amongst other elements, we consider the physical, psychological and spiritual – achieving an outcome that is unique and life-enhancing.
We would love to offer you the opportunity to realise your dream with Ken and the team at Crosson Architects.
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