“When considering the Unbuilt category, we had only one metric: which do we most want to see built? This design combines a breathtakingly simple concept – a circle in a square – with rigorous planning and a surprising approach to colour.” — Te Rōpū

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It’s a holiday property on Waiheke. The original two-bedroom house on the site remains where the clients and their friends stay, but the owners felt they needed more accommodation. “It’s also their own ‘adult’ space to retreat to,” says architect Jimmy Gray, of Roberts Gray Architects. “The clients have four adult children, all with their own families. They’re a large and tight-knit family and all enjoy spending extended holidays together.”

The new-build expands the usable living footprint of the land while maintaining discrete spaces. “It’s not intended to be lived in,” says Gray, “but as a place to house a large group of people and allowing them to be independent. The clients also intend to rent it out as a visitor accommodation.”

The architects wanted to present a model for prefabricated, modular buildings to be highly varied and site specific, inspired by pedestrian bridges and viewing platforms found on hiking trails. These give the sensation of viewing the landscape from an elevated position while still being in the middle of it.

An economic square plan grouped around a circular atrium, this island retreat is a little bit mid-century California, a little bit ancient Rome. The layout features two children’s bedrooms and two adult bedrooms with ensuites. Each is identical in size and shape with its own mono-colour palette, but each has its own function and fitout. “Public zones are all neutral,” says Gray. “A slight whitewash over the chipboard.” This is enlivened with brass fittings.

The bridge/viewing platform concept strategically places the guest house over wetland and along a new pathway that traverses the valley. In doing so, it becomes part of a wider appreciation of the whole site.

There was a conscious decision to keep the main house and this new building in their own spaces while still being in close proximity to each other. The main house occupies the highest point on the site and commands views of the bay beyond. The new house is oriented away from the obvious views to the unique natural landscape of the site itself.

“But the site is also large and fun to explore,” says Gray. “A kid’s paradise. It has a ravine in the middle, so our idea was to place the building as the bridge between both sides of the site, so that the site could be explored fully. We imagine kids playing go-home, stay-home and spotlight; cooking by the fire; climbing trees; getting into mischief etc. All of this can happen away from the main house.”

The material strategy is to combine a naturally weathering macrocarpa exterior with an interior that treats “common” materials like chipboard, and “special” materials such as brass with an equal level of care and attention to detail.

“We have a fully documented building, including all cabinetry drawings etc,” says Gray. “It is fully consented and ready to go. The client is taking stock as they transition to become full-time on Waiheke – we are hoping to get started in 2025.” We look forward to seeing it.

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