Te Kuiti Guest House

2006


Set in stunning hill country in the North Island of New Zealand, this compact 62m2 house was designed as supplementary accommodation to the main farmhouse.

Although only a short distance from the main house, the sleepout is backed up to the existing pool thus ensuring privacy. The timber decking surrounding the pool turns up to form the rear wall of the new building.

Furthermore, the major north-facing roof plan is sized to accommodate the solar water-heating system for the pool.

The house is planned in four sequential bays - bedroom, kitchen/bathroom, living/dining and bunkroom - eliminating the need for traditional circulation spaces.

Inside the house feels like a single connected space although bedrooms are easily made private. An engawa space below the deep projecting eave provides another route between spaces and protects against overheating.

The thermal mass effect of the varnished concrete floor has proven remarkably effective in reducing temperature extremes. The rest is an enveloping shell of wood; Radiata plywood inside and stained Cedar outside.

Collaboration with Sills van Bohemen Architects.

Publications

  • Small House Living - Catherine Foster

  • Houses - issue 26

A modern house with a black exterior, wooden door, and large windows, surrounded by green grass and trees. An old car is parked outside, and there is a small campfire with smoke rising near the steps leading up to the house.
A rural hillside scene with green grass, trees, a small house, and grazing sheep under a partly cloudy sky.
A modern house with a wooden deck, green grass, and a vintage car parked nearby on a sunny day with a blue sky and scattered clouds.
A wooden deck extending from a modern house, overlooking a lush green landscape with grazing animals and rolling hills under a clear blue sky.
Interior of a wooden house with a view of green fields and hills outside. There is a table with a vase of yellow flowers, two chairs, and a view through large sliding glass doors and windows.
A cozy wooden interior kitchen and dining area with large windows showing a sunny outdoor landscape.
Room with wooden walls, two sets of bunk beds, a window with a patterned valance, and a red hanging ceiling light.
Children and an adult enjoying a swim in a small outdoor pool on a sunny day, with a wooden fence and trees in the background.
Architectural floor plan of a rectangular house with outdoor areas, featuring bedrooms, a living area, kitchen, bathroom, and a swimming pool outside.
Cover of a magazine titled 'HOUSES' with a modern house built on stilts over water in a scenic setting, featuring wood and glass construction, during daytime.