Auckland-based architect and director of LTD Architectural Design Studio David Maurice, focuses on combining affordable design with the stunning New Zealand rural landscape.
Hidden away in the secluded area of New Zealand’s Puhoi settlement, Maurice’s Back Country House was designed as a home for his own family. The property is a reinterpretation of New Zealand’s “back country” huts: simple shelters found in the wilderness, provided for the general public to take refuge from bad weather. Maurice’s home provides a place for simple living and encourages close family time.
The open-plan, minimalist structure evokes a sense of tranquility and harmony. The living area opens out on two sides, allowing the space to merge with its environment. The single-volume, ground floor level—comprising lounge, cooking, and eating areas—spills out onto an extended terrace. Here, the outdoor fireplace and baths encourage time spent in the open air. The cozy master bedroom is found below the sloping roof, along with a window-length desk that provides a peaceful office space. The adjoining annex at ground level contains additional bedrooms and storage areas.
Inside and out, the structure was built from locally sourced, natural materials, such as band-sawn macrocarpa wood. Inside the walls, high-performance insulation improves energy efficiency, minimizing the impact on the environment. While outside, galvanized, corrugated iron protects the structure from the elements and strengthens the hut-like aesthetic.
David Maurice’s Back Country House provides a tranquil family home within New Zealand’s rural landscape.
The living area provides stunning views of the picturesque landscape.
The open-plan living space allows the structure to embed itself in nature, particularly with an outdoor terrace.
And the window-length desk provides a calming place to work, with scenic views of the surrounding environment.
All images via David Maurice.
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h/t: [Ignant]
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