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. search | save | share at trendsideas.com