Bivvy House / Vaughn McQuarrie
This compact dwelling follows the line of the hillside, bravely and unconventionally sloping down towards the view. The stepped plan stretches the view of the mountains long and low, just like a rock outcrop would.
Vaughn McQuarrie Ltd, founded in 2009 on Waiheke Island, is an award-winning practice led by New Zealand Registered Architect Vaughn McQuarrie. Specializing in residential and small-scale commercial architecture, the studio has earned multiple national accolades for designs that balance visual impact with a profound sensitivity to context. Each project begins with an in-depth exploration of site conditions, client aspirations, and functional requirements, ensuring that every building is both thoughtfully integrated into its landscape and purpose-driven.
With a collaborative, client-focused ethos, Vaughn McQuarrie Ltd assembles project teams that include trusted consultants and craft specialists to refine every detail. The firm’s work is characterized by meticulous craftsmanship, careful material selection, and an emphasis on seamless indoor–outdoor relationships. By harmonizing aesthetics, performance, and environmental responsiveness, Vaughn McQuarrie Ltd delivers architecture that enhances daily life and stands as a lasting expression of place.
LOCATION: Waiheke Island, New Zealand
LEARN MORE: Vaughn McQuarrie
This compact dwelling follows the line of the hillside, bravely and unconventionally sloping down towards the view. The stepped plan stretches the view of the mountains long and low, just like a rock outcrop would.
The concept for the Waiheke house was to create a central grand space, surrounded by smaller spaces, somewhat like a church in the center of a small village. The “church“ which resembles a traditional boatshed shape, consists…