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As you wind up the tortuous roads through the Welcome Bay Hills in Tauranga, you quickly find yourself in rural territory with the most stunning panoramas, taking in the whole of the city, right out to Mount Maunganui.

On one very prominent site in a spacious semi-rural subdivision, there was an opportunity to build a home that really spoke to rural architectural vernacular, yet provided the space and layout required for a young family.

Ata’s Adam Taylor says the scale of the house required was significant.

“It's a really prominent flat site at the head of the valley and we were conscious of scale and how it would look, and that's where the idea of breaking the building apart into smaller masses came from.”

These smaller masses encompass the garage and guest space, the living spaces, and the family’s bedroom wing. Each of these parts was conceived as its own unique form that integrates into the whole.

“Our reference point for the home was old farm buildings. We always talked about how a farm has a collection of buildings, so if you look at this dwelling, you'll find there's some slight differences in floor levels, and every pod or wing has a slightly different stud height, or a unique roof pitch – we're trying to make it look as if it was an assembly over time.”

To enhance this perception, the character of the exterior materials is rustic board and batten in a cypress hardwood, coated in Dryden’s wood oil in ‘Dune’, giving it a soft, weathered patina, while also protecting the timber.

The cohesive treatment of the different forms ensures they appear as one unified form in the landscape, while also integrating visually into the rural setting.

In contrast, Adam says for the interior, the brief demanded a contemporary layout and a modern materiality.

“They wanted to have a high performance home in terms of efficiency and thermal properties, but they also wanted to make sure that the layout encouraged use of the site and living on the land.”

To enable this, the house is entered directly into the living pavilion, which opens straight out to the land. At the back of the home, the living space opens to a fenced external courtyard – perfect for keeping preschoolers safe.

“We're big believers that the inside and outside need to talk to each other. Obviously, the living space here commands the centre of the site, as it has a really good outlook over the mountain. Then the bedroom wing is tucked to the side and is slightly more easterly orientated, so it has a separate outlook – it feels independent and private. And then we've got the service spaces and the garage behind which gives the whole arrangement a little bit of a buffer from the southwest wind.”

The different angles of the forms allow each wing privacy, and a glass link between the living spaces and the bedroom wing creates separation.

“The glass link does two things: on arrival, even though the building is private, we get this little idea of what's beyond, which is a bit playful. But importantly, once you're within the building, it's actually just a disconnect as you move into those sleeping wings and you move out of those living spaces. It makes them feel a lot more private and independent and reinforces the sense of being able to disengage from the busy family environment.”

The interior materiality is simple, understated and subtly picks up on a rural aesthetic, through simple architectural moves like V-groove interior panelling.

Adam says the easy integration of modern convenience and farming architectural vernacular within a rural location is the true success of the project.

“When I drive up the road and look up at the property I see it as three distinct forms, and it has a natural character that feels appropriate. But what I'm most happy with is that you read that glass length, and the scale of the joinery as modern – it definitely appears as a contemporary home on a rural site.”

Words: Jo Seton

Photography: Simon Devitt

Welcome Bay House - ata
The gable form of the garage pod cuts a distinct shape upon arrival.
The gable form of the garage pod cuts a distinct shape upon arrival.
The unostentatious entry is accessed to the right of the garage and leads visitors directly into the living spaces; a glass atrium to the right of the entry enforces separation between  the living and bedroom spaces, while also offering visitors a sneak p
The unostentatious entry is accessed to the right of the garage and leads visitors directly into the living spaces; a glass atrium to the right of the entry enforces separation between the living and bedroom spaces, while also offering visitors a sneak p
Through the front door you can see directly out to the view of Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Harbour.
Through the front door you can see directly out to the view of Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Harbour.
The kitchen/dining space is light and bright, with pale oak floorboards and a kitchen featuring V-groove panelling.
The kitchen/dining space is light and bright, with pale oak floorboards and a kitchen featuring V-groove panelling.
A view of the living spaces from the front lawn; the board and batten cladding is in cypress hardwood, which has a rustic yet refined aesthetic.
A view of the living spaces from the front lawn; the board and batten cladding is in cypress hardwood, which has a rustic yet refined aesthetic.
A close-up of the kitchen reveals pale stone surfaces juxtaposed against blonded timber and rustic rattan.
A close-up of the kitchen reveals pale stone surfaces juxtaposed against blonded timber and rustic rattan.
A built-in bench seat provides a nice moment of repose in front of the kitchen, taking in the stunning views.
A built-in bench seat provides a nice moment of repose in front of the kitchen, taking in the stunning views.
The courtyard to the rear of the house provides a safe, enclosed environment for young children.
The courtyard to the rear of the house provides a safe, enclosed environment for young children.
The strong geometric form of the living room pod is cut into, createing recessed doors that lead outside.
The strong geometric form of the living room pod is cut into, createing recessed doors that lead outside.
A view from the sheltered courtyard showcases the living room and the stunning view of Mount Maunganui beyond.
A view from the sheltered courtyard showcases the living room and the stunning view of Mount Maunganui beyond.
The sun sets over the living spaces pod; the extensive glazing on the northern side means the house is warm year-round.
The sun sets over the living spaces pod; the extensive glazing on the northern side means the house is warm year-round.
The distinct forms of the living space and garage space (with a guest suite above it) are haphazardly arranged together much like traditional rural buildings.
The distinct forms of the living space and garage space (with a guest suite above it) are haphazardly arranged together much like traditional rural buildings.
A bird's eye view of the three buildings; the bedroom wing on the right is offset from the living wing to ensure privacy.
A bird's eye view of the three buildings; the bedroom wing on the right is offset from the living wing to ensure privacy.
The home sits near the top of the Welcome Bay hills in an enclave of spacious lifestyle sections.
The home sits near the top of the Welcome Bay hills in an enclave of spacious lifestyle sections.

About the
Professional

ata is an award-winning, full-service architectural studio committed to the creation of intelligent, sustainable, and progressive design solutions.

Our projects are deeply grounded in understanding our clients. We work in an open and collaborative way to ensure the end result is relevant, meaningful, and reflects their unique identities.

Our work encompasses proportion, use of light, material integrity and sustainable methodology to create functional yet engaging architecture.

Having previously worked in both large and boutique architectural practices, as well as two years as a Project Manager in the construction business, Adam Taylor brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to his projects.

Services

ata offer a range of services including:

  • Architectural design:

-  residential
-  commercial
-  interiors
-  renovations

  • Development feasibility + planning
  • Site master planning
  • 3D concepts + solar animation