The North Island of New Zealand is definitely one of the most amazing places in the world to have a weekend cabin. Tutukaka House is located north of Ngunguru, a coastal settlement in Northland, NZ. This single-story house certainly complements its surroundings, featuring an entirely wooden structure with a black-stained facade that erupts quietly from the surrounding natural context.
The program is distributed through a long corridor that separates social and private zones. The plan is clearly organized around a central spine, with spaces orientated to specific views. Kitchen, dining and living areas share the same open space cleverly connected to a generous northern open deck and also to a sheltered space with barbecue and outdoor fireplace, orientated to the northwest.
Four bedrooms and a bathroom compose the private body of Tutukaka House; an ingenious solution to solve the climate conditions was developed with shutters that lift up to provide protection from the harsh summer sun, keeping cooler temperatures indoors.
In fact, the whole building follows the same principle of closure by using sliding panels and hinged shutters, guaranteeing the required security when not in use. Only a discrete presence of translucent elements in parts of the roof and cladding contradict this golden rule, offering a graceful light quality to circulation spaces. Stained shiplap cladding and plywood linings assume the outer and inner skin of Tutukaka House…a serene ode to Mother Nature stands proudly in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Architects: Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects
Photography: Simon Devitt
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