Semi-rural block

• Construction: 12 months
• Builder: Aztec Builders - Mark Smith
• Photography: Rhiannon Slatter
• Location: Mount Martha

This project is a new house for a family with 5 young children. The project is unusual in that the client is also the builder who has built much of our work over the past 5 years. The site is a large block in a semi-rural location with beautiful views to the bay and city beyond. The site is sloping and the northern aspect is to the front of the block towards the street. The view, orientation and the sloping site meant that the design approach inverted the traditional sequence of spaces of front door, house and backyard.

Instead to make the most of this location, an external flight of stairs leads to the entry garden and the front door is located in the middle of the house. The dwelling is designed as 2 “L” shaped wings that create interesting garden spaces around the block. From the entry we move to the living room and terrace area to the front of the block that looks out to the view and receives warm northern light. The slope of the land is used to bring cars in under the house and create a large elevated terrace over this area for the family to enjoy.