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Photos © Mark Smith
Stevens Lawson Architects
Photographed by Mark Smith
This four-bedroom family home, overlooking Coxs Bay and the western
reaches of the Waitemata Harbour, sits amongst an eclectic collection
of properties on a quiet suburban street. The house has been designed
to replace a small and ramshackle house whose previous owner had covered
almost the entire site in concrete.
The new design has sought to establish an interesting connection between
architecture and landscape through a series of courtyards, lush gardens
and an integrated approach to the formal qualities of the architecture
and the landscape design.

Photos © Mark Smith
The sculptural main form twists and ramps-up from the discrete street
frontage over a cluster of organic pod forms containing bedrooms,
a lounge and kitchen. The main living spaces and circulation areas are
seemingly held between these pod forms giving a relaxed air and fluidity
to the spaces. Dark timbers and terracotta combine with ramping floors,
sunken seating areas and hidden doors to offer a rich, playful interior.
The home also features extensive built-in furniture, shelving units and
a sculptural cantilevered staircase.
Externally, the chamfered black form interacts with the softer, textured
pod shapes to create a challenging and enigmatic adaptation of the classic
New Zealand timber house. While from the waterfront the home references
to the vernacular seaside bachs of New Zealand.
Stretching out along the narrow site and opening onto a series of intimate
courtyards the house stops short of the sea to form a private waterside
oasis, featuring a clifftop spa and swimming pool, sunken outdoor lounge,
decks and extensive lawns and garden.

Photos © Mark Smith
Stevens Lawson Architects - New Zealand houses featured:
Coxs Bay House
Hobson Bay House
Herne Bay House
Hot Water Beach House
Omaha House
Onehunga House
Onehunga Studio
Tamahere House
Modern Architects
Company : Stevens Lawson Architects
Directors: Nicholas Stevens and Gary Lawson
Address: 19/75 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1050, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 377 5376, email: mail@stevenslawson.co.nz
New Zealand houses
World Architecture : e-architect
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info@e-architect.co.uk
Coxs Bay House - page
: adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
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