Skip to main content

Andrew Lister - Hughes Kinugawa House

Image
By
Andrew Lister
Hughes Kinugawa House

Overlooking an estuary in Waterview, Auckland, New Zealand, this house has great northern views out over the bay. Like its owners, a wonderful blend of Japanese and New Zealand culture the house sings compact Japanese simplicity with a green Kiwi bach twist. Inconspicuously blending in with the surrounding garden of imported succulents, cacti and mature local trees, the raw cedar weatherboards are a greener take on the vernacular white weatherboard planks common throughout NZ.


The house consists of two cubes, connected by a wide corridor housing the bathroom and toilet. The bigger brother of the two cubes holding: the eat-in kitchen, living come library and a guest loft above. Double height windows bathe the living area with light, complementing the dark bookshelves and making an optimum reading nook for the couple, which are obviously book fanatics. This part of the house, designed for guests and entertaining has a slightly more Kiwi feel about it. Logically, due to size the kitchen and library are really for intimate guests only, but the large deck area would help host bigger summer parties.
Descending the stairs of the corridor, a deep traditional Ofuro, shower and separate toilet, are passed on the left. The door-less corridor has decorative Japanese prints hanging from the ceiling that tactfully block views into the master bedroom should the door be left open. The bedroom wing has a far more Japanese influence. The modernistic twist though, is that rather than the floor being Tatami mats throughout, the bed has been framed with them. This room also opens out onto the north facing deck and has east facing windows to catch the morning sun.










This is one of the outtakes of my Pacific Modern reading and I think a fine example of a Kiwi bach type house that would work very well as accommodation for parents.


Via: http://www.andrewlisterarchitect.com
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Murray Cockburn Partnership - Kohara Lodge

By
Murray Cockburn Partnership Kohara Lodge Of middle earth - Murray Cockburn has created a true hideaway. Kohara Lodge, of local schist stone and sedum roof, sits in quiet vigil above the Shotover river. Oh, and it's a holiday let. Overview Kohara Lodge has been built with environmental considerations in mind. The owners' main aim was to put the land back to the way it was once building had finished hence the design of the property incorporating the natural hillside, and re-planting the grounds with native New Zealand trees. The architect's vision was to replicate the natural environment as much as possible. To this end natural schist stone from a local quarry was used and this was dry laid as much as possible and dry stacked. Recycled railway timbers have been used on the outside of the property and there is no paint anywhere on the exterior of the house. The windows at Kohara Lodge all have Comfort glass to prevent glare and reflection, built in UV protection and double...
19 comments
Read more

Arthur Casas - House in Iporanga

By
Arthur Casas House in Iporanga Thanks to Arthur, Kelen and the team at Arthur Casas , I’ve received an early Christmas present to share with you all. The Immaculate “House in Iporanga” and a new addition to tags, Architect’s Own Houses. “I always wanted a house in the middle of the forest, in a place where I could relax and recharge my energy”, says Arthur. In the form of two large symmetrical cubes embracing an open space, this house was idealised as his dream house. Arthur’s aim was interiors in total synergy with exteriors. Bringing the outside in are 11 meter floor to ceiling glass windows, on both ends of the open central space. Cumaru wood paneling runs from top to bottom in an attempt to match and blend in with is beautiful surroundings “…as if this were ever 100% possible” admits Arthur. As the Cumaru extends into the house, sterile white stucco contrasts, highlighting the wood’s warm color. This simple brown and white palette provides a nice canvas for interesting/...
12 comments
Read more