Architecture

Off-grid A-frame home turns into a sculpture by night

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Dune Dormer compact family home fades into its environment like an artistic sculpture
RTA Studio
Dune Dormer is located across from Medland’s Beach on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island
RTA Studio
Dune Dormer lights up at night, reminiscent of a coastal harbor marker
RTA studio
Dune Dormer is a striking three bedroom A-frame family home, which embraces all aspects of sustainability, indigenous traditions and simplistic design
RTA Studio
The home takes advantage of the pitched-roof height, allows for a portion of the attic to be exposed, creating dramatic cathedral-high ceilings
RTA Studio
The home is fitted with timber-slated shutter-screens that close the building up entirely
RTA studio
Natural timber and twin basins are featured in the bathroom
RTA Studio
The home features the use of natural timber and a dramatic pitched-roof

RTA studio
The home features a large contemporary timber kitchen and timber outdoor terrace
RTA Studio
Dune Dormer features multiple terrace decks for outdoor living and dining
RTA Studio
The attic features three bedrooms and two bathrooms
RTA Studio
Dune Dormer compact family home fades into its environment like an artistic sculpture
RTA Studio
The home features the use of natural timber and a dramatic pitched roof
RTA Studio
View gallery - 12 images

New Zealand architectural firm RTA Studio has recently completed a stunning compact family home that fades into its environment like an artistic sculpture reminiscent of a coastal harbor marker. In fact, at night, when the shutters are closed and interior lights turned on, the home is a shining work of art.

Located across from Medland’s Beach on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island, Dune Dormer is a striking three-bedroom A-frame family home, which embraces all aspects of sustainability, indigenous traditions and simplistic design. Inspired by traditional Maori timber huts (whares) and the rich New Zealand coastal landscape, Dune Dormer was built with the intention of respecting its surroundings. It embraces the concept of "living with the land and sleeping with the sky," all the while maintaining a minimal footprint on the land.

The 110-sqm (1184-sq-ft) home is built with concrete foundations, steel framing and timber throughout. The concrete foundation is pivotal to the home's construction process, providing a solid foundation above the sandy terrain, and enabling the architects to achieve the home's dramatically high pitched-roof ceilings.

Dune Dormer is located across from Medland’s Beach on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island
RTA Studio

The home features natural timber finishings, a large contemporary timber kitchen, open dining and living spaces, multiple outdoor timber terraces with ocean views, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Stretching over two levels, the home takes advantage of the pitched-roof height, allowing for a portion of the attic to be exposed, while overlooking the lower level living areas and creating dramatic cathedral-high ceilings. This design aspect adds volume to the home and the feeling of additional space, while also flooding the home's interior with natural light.

"We have placed bedrooms in the 'attic', connecting each respective sleeping zone with either the ocean’s horizon or the bush," explained RTA Studio. "This released the entire ground floor for flexible, communal living."

The home is also fitted with timber-slated shutter-screens that close the building up entirely, protecting it from the ocean air and also providing privacy at night.

The home features the use of natural timber and a dramatic pitched roof
RTA Studio

What's more, the home has been built to be entirely off-grid, boasting rooftop solar panels, a rainwater collection system, on-site storm water disposal, and passive interior ventilation. There is even enough left-over storage room to stow a boat beneath the floorboards, achievable thanks to the home's descending topography.

Dune Dormer is a stunning example of off-grid design, and was recently the recipient of a 2022 NZIA Auckland Architecture Award.

Source: RTA Studio via Archdaily

View gallery - 12 images
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2 comments
paul314
What have they done to mitigate the unsustainable nature of concrete production?
Jake J
Five years ago, I had a house built. I was as open minded as I ever get with respect to materials and type of construction. My rules were: cost competitive, available, functionally equal. I found a lot of ideas like this one: architectural school projects that weren't available, houses not suitable for four-season environments, house that were hideously expensive. My guess is that this one fails on all four counts. So how much per square foot, including the foundation? Where are the plans available? Does it pass American building codes?

I know, I know: I am a buzzkill. I want to know whether this is just another of the dozens of school projects that won't be built.