First House

First House is a project that aims to subvert the typical suburban development footprint. Instead of a long rectangular building filling all but its setbacks, with compromised openings facing the boundaries, this house is broken apart into stepping pods with external but secure connections between them.

This pulling apart enables generous north-south openings and uses large pocket gardens to privatise the lived experience of the house, with the occupants much more connected to the site and to the seasons.

Similarly in section the house is predominantly single level, and the roof form inverts the allowable gable form prescribed by the town plan. This results in generous light-filled volumes in the internal spaces, and also allows light and breeze to permeate the landscape spaces within the site without overshadowing its neighbours.

This inverted gable form allows water collection to be expressed and celebrated in an oversized sculptural gutter that fills ponds at both ends and collects water for use on site.

The hard surface of the building footprint is minimised to prioritise planted space and water permeability. Landscaping is predominantly endemic species and stitches into the existing eucalypts at the rear of the site.

First House is presented in partnership with Fisher & Paykel Appliances.