Single-level Mangawhai house
The house sits in a natural knoll 78 m above sea level.
View from top looking south.
Kitchen and dining areas are surrounded by decks on two sides.
Full-height glass walls offer sweeping views from living area.
Dark timber flooring contrasts dramatically with the blue sea.
Simple white cabinetry helps create a bright and spacious kitchen.
View from bedroom.
Large sliding doors open to north-facing deck from kitchen and dining area.
This stunning coastal property has been owned by the same family for the past 100 years and their wish was to keep it in the family for the foreseeable future. It is a narrow parcel of land rising steeply from the sea and beach, with the top contour 95 meters above sea level.
The position of the house on the site was established by a number of factors. There were a couple of earlier schemes building at the top point but Wingate + Farquhar were keen to position it on a natural knoll further down at about 78 meters above sea level.
As part of the site research, architect David Wingate observed the reaction of visitors to the land: first, they would look directly out to sea towards the Mokohinau Islands for ten seconds or so. They would then gaze southwards to Te Arai for a much longer period of time and similarly turn to look up the coast to the Whangarei Heads past Bream Tail for a considerable time. This reinforced Wingate’s plan that the house face north, to allow views up and down the coast, out to sea and across the estuary. This also pointed the house with its narrowest elevations to the northeast and southwest, which are the predominant wind directions from the sea and across the land from the Kaipara Harbour.
The single-level house sits low, stepping down to meet the natural landscaping. This is to lessen its bulk on the ridge line and to minimise wind loading. With the house sitting across the ridge, it also met the geotechnical restraints of the site, which included concrete piles closest to the steep bank. The intention was to place the house on the site without too much disruption; the land was not adjusted to suit.
The modest-sized house is designed for a busy mother and her two boys, but it also accommodates parents and other family. The materials and finishes were to be durable and relatively maintenance-free. Upon entering the house the view opens up as you walk past the roofed courtyard towards the kitchen and dining area. This hallway links the front and back doors with all the rooms, with sliding doors lining the way. From the kitchen, you are able to view most of the activity outside on the deck, and this is the control centre internally. The living area and kitchen are separated by a plaster wall housing the pantry on one side and fireplace and TV on the other. The living space is a cosy sunken box where you can literally spend hours looking at uninterrupted vistas across the water.
