Peaceful Owhanake Bay House Bends To Nature’s Will in New Zealand

The <a href="http://www.sgaltd.co.nz/owhanake-bay-house.aspx" target="_blank">Owhanake Bay House</a> is a peaceful respite on Waiheke Island across the strait from Aukland, New Zealand. Designed by <a href="http://www.sgaltd.co.nz/" target="_blank">Strachan Group Architects</a> for a semi-retired couple, the home gently bends with the landscape and takes in views of the Hauraki Gulf below. Sun soaked and boasting unparalleled views, the vacation home also minimizes its impact on the landscape through the use of outdoor living, solar energy, rainwater collection, passive design and native landscaping.

The owners were looking for a peaceful vacation home that offered ease of movement and single level accessibility despite the site's natural slope.

<a href="http://www.sgaltd.co.nz/" target="_blank">Strachan Group Architects</a> with a home that bends to meet the landscape and makes the most out of outdoor living.

Taking inspiration from the traditional NZ villa veranda, the notion was to build a home where one could spend a lot of time outdoors in the sub-tropical climate.

The result was a design with 3 pavilions connected with covered patios.

Although the home is oriented to the north and south to meet the landscape, fins and slices oriented to the north work to soak up the sun.

Partially screened-in patios provide protection from the elements.

Insulated concrete is used as thermal mass and a 5-panel solar hot water collector with electric back-up provides hydronic heating and domestic hot water.

Durable and natural materials were chosen throughout to minimize maintenance and survive the harsh marine environment.

FSC certified, plantation-harvested and laminated wood products were used throughout.