The client’s brief was to adapt one of our pre-conceived concepts, and design it specifically for him and his two young boys, and respond in harmony with his site.
The concept was a 3 bedroom home, on two levels, with a 6m x 6m building footprint.
The client was particularly drawn to the sustainability, quality, and efficiency of the concept which could be achieved within his very limited budget.
He was temporarily living in a compact city apartment which he really enjoyed, and wanted to move back to Titirangi, where his boys attended school.

Conceptually, the building is a ‘seed’, bespoke interior detailing creates relief, patterning, & rhythm, reflecting the texture of a seed. Spaces are completely lined with NZ sustainably grown plywood, creating a natural warm immersive experience of being inside a seed. Spaces respond directly to the sun, with living, dining, kitchen, bedrooms to the north, & utility spaces to the south. By creating separation between spaces, reducing sight lines and increasing travelling distances, as you meander through the maze-like form, the small building footprint begins to expand & feel larger than it actually is – providing Jack and his boys opportunities to not only come together, but also retreat.

Rather than treating plywood as conventional sheet linings, every joint is concealed, and corners mitred, creating a sense of sculptural solidity, feeling of permanence and calmness, and amplifies the concept of being inside the shell of a seed. Bespoke trim detailing echo the delicate ridges and texture of a seed
The coffered ceiling in the living room adds intimacy and familiarity with traditional kiwi bungalows, balancing the contemporary material palette with a sense of domestic warmth. Dark interior detailing reflected from the thermally modified timber windows, create a sense of depth and texture, visually anchoring openings and amplifying the contrast between light and shadow.

A complete fabrication model, step-by-step assembly guide, & kit-set procurement process, was used to construct the building. This innovative process combined with creative & accurate design, modelling & documentation, meant that every single component was designed & coordinated with precision. This increased design refinement, detailing accuracy, shortened build time, reduced construction waste & cost. It was built in 25 weeks for $400,000+GST. The home is almost entirely constructed from renewable, sustainable, & locally grown NZ pine; structure, floor, weatherboards, windows, linings, & cabinetry. This substantially reduces embodied carbon & creates a stronger connection with our whenua.

Sammy Ho – W3 – Lead Architect
Antonia Lapwood – W3 – Architect Consultant

Image 1 – Dining to Living
Image 2 – Kitchen
Image 3 – Kitchen Window
Image 4 – Living to Dining
Image 5 – Dining Window
Image 6 – Living
Image 7 – Stairs
Image 8 – Window
Image 9 – Bathroom
Image 10 – Cede

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