Project: Morgan Residence, Auckland

Project Description:
This house was designed on a semi-rural 2.2Ha site at Hobsonville, an outer suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.

From the outset the clients had very strong ideas on the architectural form of the building and the materials to be used.  Strong horizontal lines were a key element of the desired form and natural materials comprising both stone and timber were to be used extensively. 

The design also had to allow for staging, so the initial build as shown in the accompanying photographs could be extended with minimal disruption to every day life as the family grew.  The entry lobby became the pivotal point of the design with stage 1 to the left and stage 2 to the right.  This way the entry and service areas consisting of the kitchen, pantry, storage and powder room formed a buffer between the stage 1 living and bedrooms areas and future stage 2. 

The incorporation of a large protected outdoor living areas was also high in the design brief.  These were to be directly accessible from the kitchen/informal dining, childrens’ play area and the master bedroom.  The design achieved this with almost 100m² of roofed verandah and outdoor dining with a North-East aspect.