Skip to main content

Fearon Hay Architects - Sandhills Road House

Fearon Hay Architects

Sandhills Road House


Escape to Great Barrier Island - Fearon Hay Architects have taken their minimalist luxury to Medlands once again. Hard to resist Arch Daily's post on this hidden wonder, I'm drawn back to my youth!
Derived from the classic Kiwi tarpaulin for living between two caravans, this three bedroom house has all the subtle finishes and bold clean lines for which Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay are renowned.

Contrasting Fearon Hay's prized Shark Alley house further up Medlands beach, the Sandhills Road House tucks itself into the shelter of the sand dunes to the East. Both wonderfully minimal, Sandhills is more of a traditional retreat, subdued with a calming pallette. Each bedroom has its on shuttered patio and the entire house can be shuttered closed in winter.
Fearon Hay's traditional polished concrete is limited to a hard wearing living/dining area that in summer, thanks to the shelter of the dunes, could easily be left wide open. The two sleeping pavilions are clad in black stained ply and constructed over height with the walls extending to form the railing of the upstairs deck/viewing platform - a short unintrusive deck, from which to soak up the Medlands beach sunrise.



By Nico Saieh, Arch Daily

Located on the Eastern coastline of the Huaraki Gulfs, Great Barrier Island the ‘Great Barrier House’ is a relaxed holiday destination that references traditional notions of bach occupation. Drawing inspiration from the idea of two sheds linked by stretched tarpaulin, the house consists of two habitable areas joined by an expansive floating pavilion. Wide expanses of sliding glass doors & adjustable blinds allow the pavilion to respond to different environmental conditions while providing the location for eating dining & relaxing within the natural surrounds of the property.

Clad in band sawn ply sheet the ‘sheds’ provide a modern take on the use of vernacular building materials. Coupled with the use of permeable metal screens the ability to manipulate outlook and environment from within the ‘sheds’, provides further reference to traditional notions of holiday occupation and response to site. As locations for the bedrooms and bathrooms these built forms offer a sense of refuge from the open pavilion space.

A roof deck upon the Northern ‘shed’, gives outlook and sea views, otherwise restricted by the site location behind the Medlands beach sand dunes and nestled amongst the neighboring properties. Standing upon the roof deck looking South-West towards aging corrugated farm sheds and looking North-East towards the expansive seascape, the Great Barrier House sits comfortably within its environment; offering a private retreat while allowing an occupation that embraces the surrounding landscape and context.




Architect Fearon Hay Architects
Location Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Constructed Area 250 sqm
Project Year 2007-2008
Photographs Patrick Reynolds
Plans

Comments

Unknown said…
I'm a big fan of Fearon Hay Architects. Crisp, minimal, cool. Love it. Thanks.

Popular posts from this blog

Andrew Lister - Hughes Kinugawa House

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

Murray Cockburn Partnership - Kohara Lodge

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

Arthur Casas - House in Iporanga

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/