Project: Breamtail House
Architects: Studio2 Architects
Location: Mangawhai, New Zealand
Photo Credits: Studio2 Architects
The clients presented a brief which envisaged “blades through and with the land”. Working with the land and not against it became a key principle for the project and for the architect, this informed a building with clean lines which inserted itself into the land and merged with the landscape.
The form was guided by simple principles and specific site constraints. The clients sought spaces which were positive and negative, light and dark and brought drama, delight, joy and experience. The building was thus conceived as a rendered block base beneath a semi-glass box under a slim flat roof.
From initially arriving down the driveway through to traversing into the main living spaces, the journey is crafted through the play of dark and light spaces, change in materiality and precisely oriented views of the coast to the east and encompassing valley.
The Breamtail House has been designed to have outlooks on both on the east and the west. The ground floor contains a master bedroom with an ensuite, a double garage, home offices, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. The upper floor contains the main living spaces which open out to an eastern and western outdoor terrace. The western outdoor terrace features a pool, barbeque and dining area. The outdoor-indoor-outdoor arrangement gives the occupants the flexibility of use throughout the day, as well as usability in various weather conditions.
