Contemporary new clifftop house by Design House has dark glazed cube over monolithic basement

Prime clifftop locations are always sought after, so it's not surprising that planning a new home on such a site sometimes involves building over the foundations of an older one.

That's what happened with this project in Coromandel, says designer Kris Wilson, director of Design House Architecture.

"The owners couldn't go past the view, even though there was an existing bach on site. We removed most of this house and built a new home on the old foundations."

Wilson says a simple, contemporary aesthetic and layout was required, to suit laid-back coastal living and entertaining. The home also had to be integrated with the bush backdrop.

"We anchored the building to the site with a solid, monolithic basement, and floated a dark glazed cube over the top. This achieves a strong geometric expression and helps to exaggerate the clifftop experience, providing multiple view paths. The darker upper level reduces the building's apparent mass when seen from the ocean or the road the house looks as if it is suspended within the treetops."

The house, a finalist in the ADNZ/Resene Architectural Design Awards, features many sustainable design initiatives.

For details, contact Design House Architecture, 29 Marnane Terrace, St Andrews, Hamilton 3200, phone (07) 849 3074. Email: kris@designhouse.co.nz. Website: www.designhouse.co.nz

Story by: Trendsideas