Tag Archives: New Zealand

Architecture, Design, Home Design, Tours, Videos

Tours: ‘Te Arai Beach House’ In New Zealand

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THE LOCAL PROJECT (January 31, 2025): Nestled between the forest and the ocean on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Te Arai Beach House manifests as a contemporary cabin in the woods. “The power of the site when we first visited was in the ocean, the forest and the sand dunes.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the cabin in the woods 01:27 – The early design discussions 02:12 – Interior designers own home 03:27 – The layout of the home 04:30 – A warm material palette 06:56 – Collaborating with artists 07:38 – Rewarding Aspects 08:08 – Proud Moments

So we wanted to provide a building that doesn’t challenge or reduce the sense of beauty that’s already there,” says Tim Hay, design director and co-founder at Fearon Hay. “We instantly looked, in terms of the architecture, to references that related to those different thresholds – the ability to emerge from the forest, discover the ocean, but still have a sense of protection,” notes Hay. “So this idea of the cabin in the woods was an idea that stuck from very early on.”

From afar, Te Arai Beach House appears to be a series of simple, unambiguous silhouettes. However, as one moves closer, complexity is revealed through blurred thresholds, operable screens and considered openings. The first building is a cabin that contains a garage and guest occupation. “This sits between an open space that frames a courtyard and the main building, which is set to the ocean, and is fundamentally a pair of open suites that capture an open plan living space between them,” explains Hay.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Architecture: Kārearea House In New Zealand

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The Local Project (December 15, 2024): Located in the Wakatipu Basin on New Zealand’s South Island, Kārearea House by RTA Studio, which takes inspiration from the region’s majestic native falcons, is the most breathtaking home shaped by nature.

00:00 – Introduction to the Most Breathtaking Home 01:12 – The Location Centred Brief 02:36 – Approaching the Home 03:09 – Walkthrough of the House 04:11 – Restrained Interior Styling 05:44 – The Kitchen Design and Appliances 07:21 – A Balanced Material Palette 08:29 – Curating The Views 09:21 – Proud Moments

What defines it, however, is the site’s staggering 360-degree views to The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and the Crown Range, and the architects’ response to these multifaceted aspects. “We’ve done a few houses in this area and, over the years, we’ve developed an approach that’s firstly about identifying the significant views,” says Richard Naish, founder of RTA Studio.

Though Naish acknowledges that the perspectives are a gift, he believes good architecture is more about the control and release of views. This philosophy underscored RTA Studio’s approach to crafting the most breathtaking home shaped by nature. The roof lines played heavily into this idea; designed to follow the contours of the land and echo the surrounding topography, the roof dips in parts and soars in others, creating views both vast and precise.

#Nature #Home #NewZealand

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Architecture: ‘Shepherd’s Hut’ – A Secretive Design

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The Local Project (July 26, 2024): Inspired by structures found near New Zealand’s Southern Alps, The Shepherd’s Hut is the worlds most secret home. The minimalist house – designed by Fearon Hay in collaboration with interior designer Paul Kennedy – sits comfortably in the landscape while offering a flexible set of interiors.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the World’s Most Secret Home 01:07 – Behind the Design and Name 02:31 – The Arrival Sequence 02:58 – A Playful and Relaxed Brief 04:29 – The Floor Plan and Layout 06:25 – The Interior Material Palette 07:59 – The Exterior Material Palette 08:48 – Proud Moments

Settled on the Wānaka lakefront, the worlds most secret home is often in the path of cold wind crossing from Makarora. “When there are storms, you can feel very alone, but with the warmth of the fires, my two dogs rugged up with sheepskin, you essentially become a shepherd,” says Matt Chapman, custodian of the property. “When we created the home, I didn’t want too much space for an abundance of possessions. I’d reached a point in my life where minimalism and simplicity were the ways I wanted to exist.”

While maintaining a minimalist focus, the design brief for the project proposed a spatially flexible home that enables new experiences. “When we encountered the site, it was an opportunity to build a structure with length,” says Tim Hay, architect at Fearon Hay. “We liked the idea of a very simple silhouette … we wanted the building to have a sense of retreat and integration with the landscape.”

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Design Tours: A Remote Cabin In New Zealand

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The Local Project (April 19, 2024) – Creating a place for people to reconnect with each other and nature, Patterson Associates built a cabin that sits upon the New Zealand landscape with advantageous coastal views. Located on a working sheep and cattle farm on the Banks Peninsula, Scrubby Bay is extremely remote.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Remote Cabin 01:16 – The History of the Landscape 02:13 – An Insight into the Design Inspiration 03:02 – The Layout of the Cabin 03:57 – Approaching the Bay 05:02 – The Respectful Construction Process 05:30 – A Robust Material Palette 06:31 – The Functionalities of the Cabin 07:23 – A Sustainable Approach to the Build

The cabin home is architectural in its design and faces straight into the sub-Antarctic weather that comes in from the bay and down the mountains. Moreso, due to the home’s location, there is a wide variety of wildlife, including an array of birds, dolphins and whales. Faced with the decision of what to design and how to design it, the architect was drawn to building a residence that responded to the site. Moreover, seen in the house tour of the cabin is the bay, which tends to be covered in driftwood.

This helped influence the architect on choosing the unique materials and timber for the project. Designed to age and get better with time, Scrubby Bay is laid out as two simple gabled barn forms that are slotted together. Specifically arranged for families or large groups renting off Airbnb, the house can accommodate up to 16 people and encourages them to come together and experience the natural landscape. Three main bedrooms have been created for the adults and spread throughout the gabled form of the home. Additionally, seen in the house tour, at each side of the home are two gathering areas, one being an entertainment deck facing the ocean and the other is a pool facing the rear mountains.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

New Zealand Design Tour: ‘The Folly’ Island Cabin

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The Local Project (March 19, 2024) – The philosophical intent of The Folly by Chesire Architects is to provide a gentle cabin retreat for its owners. As such, the architect is concerned about employing a built interior quality of calm and repose to the cabin. Positioned on a clifftop in Takapuna, New Zealand,

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to The Secluded Cabin 00:44 – A 25-year Long Process 01:35 – Incorporating Considered Luxury 02:22 – The Cabin Floor Plan 03:17 – A Warm Material Palette 04:30 – The Collaborative Process 05:11 – Inspired by Personal Memories

The Folly is an end piece of a project that started near thirty years prior and is a single house with steps down the clifftop. To complement the original luxurious home, the architect built The Folly on the far northern edge of the landscape to embrace the sun and views. With each Chesire Architects projects there is an element of managed revelation, so that when one arrives there is hint of something before the reveal is slowly rolled out. Designed to look like a modern yet rusted shed, The Folly can be seen across the landscape from the main home, yet it isn’t until approach that its charm is revealed.

Following the house tour through the entry, there is a realisation that there is a level of consideration and luxury provided through the choice of materials, decor and interior design. The cabin appears to look casual and informal yet, through its meticulously planned interior design and architecture, a certain level of luxurious indulgence is felt. The floor plan of the cabin is kept quite simple as the architect has built it to serve two functions. One half is the garden shed and the other is the retreat and guesthouse with kitchen. The inside of the home is rectangular in shape and everything, such as the kitchen, lounge space and two-way fireplace, is visible upon entrance. Outside is an open-air terrace where one can sit and look out to the ocean.

Automobiles, Travel, Videos, Views

Road Trips: Tour Of South Island, New Zealand (2023)

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Curves Magazin (December 26, 2023) – A epic road trip through the southern island of New Zealand celebrating the 60th birthday of the Porsche 911.

The South Island of New Zealand is renowned for its mountains, lakes and glaciers. The Southern Alps, home to 3,724m-high Aoraki Mt. Cook, run along the entire length of the island. In the southwest is Fiordland National Park, with steep-sided Milford Sound. In the north is Abel Tasman National Park, known for its trails and ocean kayaking. Queenstown is famed for adventure sports like bungee jumping and skiing. 

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

New Zealand Design: Waiheke Island Home Tour

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The Local Project (December 19, 2023) – On Waiheke Island, New Zealand, an architect designs a hidden home. Offering a distinctive New Zealand experience, Mawhiti House was created for two sisters who were in search of a unique holiday dwelling where they could peacefully retreat to.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Hidden Home 00:43 – Designed for Two Siblings 01:49 – The Form of the Home and its Influence 02:28 – The History of the Gateway Pavilion 03:31 – In Conversation with the Home and the Landscape 04:00 – The Layout of the Home 04:45 – Incorporating A Soulful and Earthy Feeling 05:36 – Proud Moments

A place of restoration and rejuvenation, an architect designs a hidden home that evokes a sense of calm. Built on an expansive plot of land, the Mawhiti House is surrounded by native bushland along with expansive views of the ocean, which can be accessed from the kitchen, bathrooms and living spaces within. Stephens Lawson Architects has designed the form to feel welcoming to the owners and their guests all year round. As seen in the house tour, Mawhiti House combines utility with a deep spiritual atmosphere. Another inspiration for the design was the idea of a rural barn.

Accompanying the Waiheke Island residence is a gateway pavilion, a structural addition that is made out of timber and enhances the living experience. Formed out of raw, natural pieces of wood, the structure offers a unique way to experience the surrounds of Waiheke Island. The house tour also reveals that the home and pine wood gateway are in constant dialogue with each other through the triangular forms and materiality of the timber architecture. Broken into three pavilions, the dwelling is spread across the site and seamlessly blends into the landscape as if it has always been a part of it. Between the pavilions are micro courtyards positioned off the bathrooms. As an architect designs a hidden home, each courtyard is differentiated from one another to enrich the experience of the owners and their visitors alike.

Culture, Magazines, Photography, Previews, Reviews, Travel

National Geographic Traveller – January 2024

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National Geographic Traveller Magazine (January 2024): The latest issue features adventures in Argentina, exploring Tahiti’s most remote corners, cycling through one of Italy’s iconic food regions and finding out how to plan a Great Walk in New Zealand…

Also inside this issue:

Emilia-Romagna: Cycle through Italy’s ‘food valley’ for a taste of the country’s iconic produce
Tahiti: The French Polynesian island’s southeast offers coastal hiking and surfing fit for champions
Hampi: Long in ruins, the capital of the ancient Hindu kingdom beckons pilgrims to this day
New Zealand: For outdoor lovers, completing one of the country’s Great Walks is the feat of a lifetime
Manchester: Creativity and craftsmanship infuse all areas of life in this northwestern hub
Montreal: Canada’s second city merges European flair with North American innovation
County Wicklow: Foraging, fine arts and forest paths in an outdoorsy getaway to the ‘Garden of Ireland’
Bali: Local recipes and passionate chefs are the backbone of Indonesia’s food-loving island
Boston: In Massachusetts’ capital city, the best hotels are within easy reach of the culinary and cultural action

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Mountain Design Tour: The Gatehouse, New Zealand

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The Local Project (December 5, 2023) – The Gatehouse by architecture firm Patterson Associates Architects and interior design practice Sonja Hawkins Design depicts the journey of designing a home in the mountains of New Zealand.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Home in the Mountains 00:38 – The Vision of a Flexible Home 01:09 – The History of the Central Mountain Location 02:03 – A Focus on the Apertures 02:29 – Connecting the Interior and Exterior Material Palette 03:52 – An Entertainers Space 05:10 – Favourite Aspects of the Home

The Local Project’s house tour illustrates how this dynamic house near the base of the famous Remarkables mountain range and its complex build rise to the exemplary topography whilst being sympathetic to the surrounding rural fabric. The journey of designing a home as compelling as The Gatehouse is nuanced, as is the decision to build such a bold home. The architecture and interior design were conceived holistically by Andrew Patterson and Sonja Hawkins, and as such, the house is a seamless blend of materials and ideals with a showstopping staircase crafted from timber and steel.

The home consists of two buildings – one stone and one timber – and in the house tour, the architecture and interior design are presented against the backdrop of New Zealand’s incomparable landscape, including the mountain range in the distance and golf course nearby. In the journey of designing a home, The Gatehouse draws on medieval influences in its interpretation of a portcullis – a historical architectural feature best described as a rising door or enclosed outdoor room typically found at the entries of castles or medieval estates. This gateway, crafted from timber and steel, leads to the custom staircase, which corkscrews through the stone building.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

New Zealand Design: A South Island ‘Eco-Cabin’

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The Local Project (October 31, 2023) – The Cabin by Johnstone Callaghan Architects is a tiny eco home located in Abel Tasman National Park, on the South Island of New Zealand.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Tiny Eco Home 00:34 – The Remote South Island Location 01:38 – The Layout of the Tiny Eco Home 02:41 – The Cabin Structure and Features 03:17 – A Unique Outdoor Shower 03:37 – Bespoke Design Elements 04:48 – A Sensory Experience

Connected to nature and surrounded by wildlife, the tiny eco home is one of four privately held properties that is reachable only by boat or a walking track. As The Cabin is positioned among the trees, the architects limited tree cutting as much as possible so the owners could help regenerate the land. Additionally, due to the remote nature of the property, the owners have been given the rare opportunity to live amid nature itself. When arriving at the site of the tiny eco home, the house tour begins at the bottom of the property.

The house tour then takes you up a winding staircase that bypasses nature, so one is continuously connected to the natural surrounds. In the main living space of the tiny eco home, there is a kitchen with warm timber tones that complements the interior design, which is then contrasted by the dark timber tones found in the main bedroom. The remainder of the home leads out to the deck area, where a concrete bunker houses a sunken outdoor toilet.