SLATEWATER

The client’s brief was to create a contemporary holiday home that maximises the site’s ocean views. A number of key site constraints have informed the design, including: a narrow site with steeply sloping topography, neighbouring properties with overlooking considerations and required access at both the top and bottom of the sloped site. These played a key role in informing the arrangement of buildings on the site.

The design response split the building accommodation into a main house and a supporting annex. The design of both buildings embody a corresponding architectural language ensuring continuity and a strong visual connection between the two.

The main house is split over two floors with the open plan living space on the first floor maximising views. Careful consideration to the impact on neighbouring properties informed an intentional set back of the first floor and the use of timber privacy screens on either side of the terrace. Habitable spaces have been placed across the seaward elevation; with the rear generally used for circulation to minimise privacy issues looking back towards the annex. Bedrooms are positioned across the front ground-floor level.

All floors benefit from access to external terraces. The first-floor terraces feature timber privacy screens, while the bedroom terraces benefit from solid balustrades for increased privacy. The annex follows a similar design approach with bedrooms located on the lower-ground floor. Overlooking is minimised by a timber planter along the boundary.

The house was constructed using a combination of local knowledge and skills. The material palette used is reflective of the area, including white render, slate and timber. The house is equipped with an air source heat pump providing a source of renewable energy to the property.