New Zealand House Organized Around A Spiraling Core

There’s a house in New Zealand which is structured like a tiny village. It has a large double-height space at its center and several single-story areas organized around it. There are also two mezzanine platforms and a side lane which brings the house closer to an old stone wall found on the adjacent property. there’s a really nice dynamic in and around the house. In total, there are 247 square meters of living space. The house was designed by Vaughn McQuarrie and was completed in 2016.

The house has a fully glazed side facades which open up the spaces to their surroundings
The house has a fully glazed side facades which open up the spaces to their surroundings
This is the other side of the house and it too is fully glazed and opens up the deck and the views

The house is open to the surroundings at either end. It has fully glazed facades which let in lots of natural light and expose the internal spaces to the views which, by the way, are pretty amazing. We’re particularly intrigued by the way these spaces are organized. As we already mentioned, they’re all clustered around a central space which has a double-height ceiling. A spiral staircase and a ceiling-mounted fireplace emphasize the height of the space and serve as focal points.

The views are pretty amazing and what's great is the fact that the house is not openly exposed to them
The views are pretty amazing and what’s great is the fact that the house is not openly exposed to them
the ground floor living spaces opens onto the deck and welcomes the outdoors in
The ground floor living spaces opens onto the deck and welcomes the outdoors in

The helical staircase is not just a functional element in the design of the house but also a sculptural feature which increases its visual appeal and overall elegance while remaining space-efficient. Its main role is that of offering access to the two mezzanine platforms. There’s one at either end of the structure and each has its own function. One of the platforms serves as the main sleeping area while the other is a workspace.

 

The spaces are generally very cozy and welcoming, whether they're open or enclosed
The spaces are generally very cozy and welcoming, whether they’re open or enclosed
The main materials used are concrete, steel and wood. They complement each other nicely
The main materials used are concrete, steel and wood. They complement each other nicely

The central space at the core of the house is the social zone where family and guests gather together around the fireplace and enjoy the cozy ambiance and admire the views. In here you can best see the materials which went into the structure of the space. The walls are made of precast concrete panels and the beams are made of steel. The polished concrete floors are balanced out by the wooden ceilings and room dividers. The occasional accent color brightens up the decor and ties everything together in a harmonious way.

At the center of the ground floor space is a spiral staircase which offers access to the mezzanine areas
At the center of the ground floor space is a spiral staircase which offers access to the mezzanine areas
There are two mezzanine areas, one on either side of the house, and they're connected by a bridge
There are two mezzanine areas, one on either side of the house, and they’re connected by a bridge
One of the mezzanine areas serves as a workspace and is quite cozy and open
One of the mezzanine areas serves as a workspace and is quite cozy and open

The two mezzanine platforms are linked by a walkway which runs along the side of the house. They remain separate, each featuring its own structure and decor. The sleeping area is cozy and has an en-suite bathroom. Wooden dividers frame the bed and delineate it from the bath while also ensuring privacy. The guest bedroom which is on the ground floor is very cozy as well and it too has a nice view of the garden. The workspace/ home office occupies the other mezzanine platform. It’s an open space with a great view of the surroundings.

The other mezzanine platform serves as a sleeping area and is organized with room dividers
The other mezzanine platform serves as a sleeping area and is organized with room dividers
There's an addition bedroom on the ground floor, for guests
There’s an addition bedroom on the ground floor, for guests