Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 31 No 6 New Zealand | Page 77
The higher you go, the better the views. This
simple premise can be enough for an architect to
turn a house on its head, positioning the living
areas upstairs and the bedrooms downstairs.
This large riverside home by architect Mark
Peters of Studio Dwell offers a case in point. The
owners requested a house that responded to its
site, framing the outlooks of the natural grass
terrain running down to the river, says Peters.
“To maximise the river setting, the traditional
arrangement of public and private spaces was
inverted. And to further optimise the outlooks,
the upper level is largely transparent, meaning
someone approaching the house can look right
through the interior to the views beyond.”
While the home’s front and rear facades on
the top floor are essentially walls of glass, a quite
different treatment was required for the sides.
“There are neighbours in close proximity
to left and right, so the side walls have narrow
clerestory windows that admit natural light but
retain privacy. The street side of the downstairs
master wing has similar slot windows.”
From the curving approach road, the house
has a strong sculptural presence that celebrates
simple box-like forms. Seen from the rear, the
Above: This house by architect Mark
Peters consists of strong, block-like
forms that nestle into the landscape.
Concrete and aluminium is combined
with touches of îpe wood for a
durable exterior that connects to the
colours of the landscape. The upper
level is walled in glass, providing a
view right through the interior to the
scenic river outlooks.
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