Open side-bar Menu
 ArchShowcase
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Wall House in Christchurch, New Zealand by MC Architecture Studio

 
April 23rd, 2019 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: MC Architecture Studio

This residential home resides atop Mt Pleasant in Christchurch, New Zealand overlooking the natural landscape of the mountain and the waters of the Estuary. Designed to the landscape and surrounding environment, the building’s form stands honestly with purpose.

MC Architecture Studio was fully aware of the surrounding environments impact on the building and vice versa. The Wall House has been formed to address, and exist alongside, its exterior world. Its fragmented northern façade splits open for maximum sun contact, while protecting a sheltered outdoor living area from the prevailing winds. The shape creates two alternative wings, one reaching out to the North Eastern corner of the site, while the other leans to the North West directing out towards the view.

View From North West, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

  • Architects: MC Architecture Studio
  • Project: Wall House
  • Location: 15 Hilltop Lane, Mount Pleasant, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Photography: Baptiste Marconnet
  • Software used: Revit
  • Lead Architect: Max Capocaccia
  • Lighting Consultants: Lume Design
  • Engineering: PTL Engineering
  • Landscape: Kamomarsh Landscape Architects
  • Construction Company: Parsons Construction
  • Interior Design: Mooi Design
  • Gross Built Area: 304m2
  • Completion Year: 2018

View From North East, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

A key factor in the internal layout of the building was to create two separate living quarters for differing experiences and times of day. The upper story living in the eastern wing opens itself up to the surrounding environment and all its beauty, overlooking the bay through the natural vegetation of the mountain, whereas when a more private sense of living is required you must simply follow the stairs below to the lower living area, a place of privacy and enclosed comfort.

“The experience in the journey from the street to the home’s interior is celebrated”. From the street the visitor stands with curiosity and wonder, as an “outsider” to the home, someone to not yet be trusted.  The street facing wall cloaks the home in its entirety as well as the view beyond acting as a form of protection to the residents within.

View from North East Corner, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

External Courtyard, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Upon closer approach, the wall tears itself open with a small split, offering the visitor a point of entry into the transitional space between the two atmospheres of interior and exterior. Following the path of concrete steps and boardwalk the visitor descends into the entrance courtyard just beyond the wall’s opening. This tightly confined space narrowly surrounded by tall white concrete walls, enforces an equal sense of protection as well as fear of being defenseless. Now locked in a transitional space between the external world and the interior of the home, the visitor feels vulnerable. As the white walls fade into the background, his direction of sight is drawn towards the black tiled door that stands alone at the end of the path.  Though this space offers no external connection to what lies beyond the walls, a simple and inviting gesture of natural life comes from the soft and organically molded timber door handle.

Wall from Hilltop Lane, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Interior Front door, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Once being welcomed inside through the tiled doorway, you leave the confining four walls where external sight is lost, and are greeted into the home by the outstanding view of the bay and surrounding natural landscape. The home now offers up all its previously kept secrets and gifts the visitor with a sense of protection.

Overall the completed home is one of curiosity and protection from the outside, while focused on comfort, environment and sense of security from within.

Dining to Entry, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Living Room, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Kitchen with Stairwell, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Glass Wall Detail, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Entry Courtyard use, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

View from Balcony to Estury, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Balcony Void, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Wall Opening, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

Entry Courtyard, Image Courtesy © Baptiste Marconnet

South Elevation, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

West Elevation, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

North Elevation, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

North East Elevation, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

Ground Floor, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

First Floor, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

Section A-A, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

Section B-B, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

Section D-D, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

Site Plan, Image Courtesy © MC Architecture Studio

Tags: ,

Categories: House, Residential, Revit, Swimming Pool




© 2024 Internet Business Systems, Inc.
670 Aberdeen Way, Milpitas, CA 95035
+1 (408) 882-6554 — Contact Us, or visit our other sites:
TechJobsCafe - Technical Jobs and Resumes EDACafe - Electronic Design Automation GISCafe - Geographical Information Services  MCADCafe - Mechanical Design and Engineering ShareCG - Share Computer Graphic (CG) Animation, 3D Art and 3D Models
  Privacy PolicyAdvertise