19A Watson, Akaroa

The holiday home is designed to allow for the flexibility of a large or small occupancy, with multiple living spaces providing different uses, with either separation or intimacy.  Tricky topography and planning rules have influenced the form of the home, while the view and light is championed. 

Timber is the dominant material, giving the home softness and warmth, reminiscent of traditional Kiwi baches.  It has been used in a number of ways, with different finishes.  A charred yaki sugi finish on walls contrasts with a birch plywood ceiling and oak floor.  The roof form is accentuated by a pale laminated fascia.  Timber fins separate the entry from the living room, while still allowing light to filter through.

The modernist aesthetic allows for expansive glazing towards the hill and ocean views, maximising the potential of the site, and involving the occupants in the special environment the home is in.