People. Noise. Pollution. Rush. Rush. Rush. While the buzz of city life can be exciting and motivating it can also wear us down. Sometimes you need to get away, spend time alone or with family and breath some fresh air for once. With an outdoor bath, fireplace and a connected, open-plan design, this home by LTD Architectural Design Studio takes full advantage of a secluded, bushy site, allowing the owners to connect with nature and each other...
Based on the style of a typical New Zealand back country hut, the home has one main space for living/cooking eating and a lean-to annexe for services and sleeping areas. All of these spaces can be opened up to flow into one another and outside, creating a home which is "open and shared as opposed to enclosed and separate."
The living area opens completely on two sides, creating the sense of an outdoor room. A fire and two baths are located on the deck to draw these activities into the outdoors. Cleverly, the baths can also be used as a sunken dining area when their covers are lifted up to form a table.
Inside and out the home is clad in locally-sourced band sawn Macrocarpa and roughhewn natural materials, connecting it to the landscape and giving the home a rough, rustic feel in spite of impeccable detailing. Galvanised corrugated iron helps to strengthen the feeling of a traditional hut in the bush. Inside, the rough aesthetic is contrasted with smooth, white surfaces.
The downstairs bedroom is one large, long space with beds at either end and an open rumpus space in the middle. Large sliding doors connect this space to the living area and it has its own rear deck.
Upstairs is a mezzanine master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. Skylights overhead and a large picture window create a light-filled space for relaxing, while a full-length desk is a quiet place to get some work done away from the hubbub downstairs.
With passive heating/ventilation, and high-performance insulation, the home is comfortable and low-impact, making it the perfect bush retreat for family time and recharging with the help of nature.
