Outside the Box A steep, narrow site on Waiheke Island provided the perfect opportunity for Box to deliver its modular architecture.
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Outside the Box
A steep, narrow site on Waiheke Island
provided the perfect opportunity for
Box to deliver its modular architecture.
Words Jo Jeffy Photography Simon Wilson
32 HOUSES HOUSES 33
S
ecuring a section on the cliff edge
at Onetangi, Waiheke Island,
overlooking the bush and sea is next
to impossible. But, if Sophie Curabet
and partner Sebastien Pham thought
that finding their dream section was
difficult, they weren’t quite prepared for
the challenges of building on the steep,
This page.
narrow site. Cedar screening
Not only was the site restrictive but provides privacy
the build budget was too. It meant that from the car
park above the
an initial design that was prepared for the site and for the
site had to be thrown out after six months, sheltered alcove
because of excessive cost. between the two
living spaces.
Fortunately, Curabet had heard of a
company called Box, which specialises in
modular, transportable homes, and she
made contact to see if a modular build
might be possible for the challenging site
and within her strict budget constraints.
Box was happy to accommodate and both
parties agreed that the home would stay
within the footprint of the original design
that had already gained council consent.
Within that footprint, it was decided
that two living silos were required: one
containing the main living spaces, the
master bedroom and an en suite, and
the other a separate guest wing. Within
the modular format, a covered, sheltered but, strangely enough, it was neither the were clad, the walls were clad, the
outdoor space connects the two. trip on the truck nor the ferry journey windows were in, the lining was done,
Architect Tim Dorrington, who worked that was causing problems. “It was getting the bathrooms were done – it was quite
on the design, says the approach to the them off the ferry and taking them up the incredible really.”
house was an important driver of the windy, narrow roads on Waiheke – the truck It took only two days to position each
architecture, because the home is accessed would have fallen off the side of the road!” of the modules onto the bearers and, once
by walking down a steep hill. It meant a smaller truck was required, the roof joins were made between them,
Therefore, the roofing design was and, with it, a narrower and shorter the home was effectively complete.
conceived to expose and highlight the module design. Much to Curabet’s dismay, The finishes in the airy, Scandinavia-
composition of the house. this meant cutting the height of the inspired interior took only a further two
“Instead of running a roof over the modules. The large modules were then months, and the owners were handed
whole lot and disguising it, we’re letting also reconfigured into six smaller modules. the keys.
people see how it was put together.” On the day of transportation, power Entering the home for the first time was
As the design developed, a strategic lines had to be dropped to allow a crane a nerve-wracking experience for Curabet,
analysis of the site was made, and it was onto the site and the owners awaited the who was concerned the modifications to
discovered that adjustments would need arrival of the modules with bated breath. the design might lessen the impact of the
to be made to the design of the modules in But, after all the challenges they’d incredible sea view.
order to transport them to the site. experienced in the design process, the She needn’t have worried. “The highlight
They were being manufactured transportation phase was a dream. was when we opened the house and we saw
in a factory in Henderson (while the The modules arrived on site virtually the view… now, every morning when I wake
foundations were being completed on site) finished, says Dorrington. “The roofs up, I feel so grateful to have this view.”
34 HOUSES HOUSES 35
This spread.
White melamine
cabinetry and A2
bar stools from
IMO give the
kitchen space a
fresh, Scandinavian
look. Above the
bench are two Oku
oak pendants from
Città and a Boskke
ceramic Sky Planter.
36 HOUSES HOUSES 37
This page.
The guest suite has
its own en suite and
provides a private
experience. A Vitex
deck wraps around
the front of both living
modules, creating unity
and an outdoor alcove.
Facing page.
In the living room, the
Walker chair and North
coffee table are both
from Tim Webber, the
sofa is from Republic
Home and the natural,
handmade rug is
from Nodi.
38 HOUSES HOUSES 39
This page. The north-west-facing open-plan kitchen, dining and living space looks out over Waiheke’s Onetangi Beach. Floating Table and Bai Chairs from Tim Webber Design. 40 HOUSES HOUSES 41
“The highlight
was when we
opened the house
and we saw the
view… now, every
morning when
I wake up, I feel
so grateful to have
this view.”
Sophie Curabet
This page,
clockwise from top.
The approach to the
house has a focus on
materiality; the detailing
of the cedar screening
is juxtaposed with the
dark tin cladding. The
bathrooms were fully
tiled upon arrival on
site. An aerial view
of the home shows
the two living spaces
connected by the roof.
Opposite.
The master bedroom
opens onto the Vitex
deck and enjoys
spectacular views
out to sea.
42 HOUSES HOUSES 43
Project Details Material Palette
06
G RO U N D F LO O R
P RODUC T E DI T Q&A
02 09
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01
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W E S T E R N E L E VATI O N Tim Dorrington discusses the roof and
exterior cladding on the Waiheke House.
0 2.5m
What was important in the materiality of the
exterior of the home?
You’re often designing a house because
Table and chairs of how it might look from the road or for
The negative detail on Tim Webber’s Floating Table, made from European birch plywood, gives the tabletop a when you’re sitting out in the backyard and
sleek, soft edge and a floating effect. Here, the table is teamed with the Bai Chair, from Spanish brand Ondarreta looking back at the house. But, here, your
(timwebberdesign.com).
Project areas It is difficult to achieve real Kitchen designer and Splashback and benchtops: Floor plan experience of the house is either up-close
e Plan Site: 870m² ‘economy class’ affordability, manufacturer: Fluid Interiors Silestone, Blanco Zeuss 01 Entry details (therefore, we wanted to be very
Floor: 100m² given the structural issues we Bathroom designer: Sink: Franke 02 Bedroom Outdoor seating
03 Walk-in wardrobe First created in the 1920s, the Luxembourg low careful of the materials and the details we
have in the industry but, by Sam Elliot – Box™ Flooring: Vienna Woods –
and storage armchair (seen on page 39) has since been redesigned used) or the roof.
Time schedule re-examining the relationship Bathroom manufacturer: Oak, rustic grade 04 Living/dining
Design and planning: between architect and builder Fluid Interiors, Chesters Lighting: Lightplan downlights by Frédéric Sofia as part of the Luxembourg
05 Kitchen
12 months (some would say the architect- Taps: Axor Starck 06 Bathroom collection (jardin.co.nz). How does the roof design respond to this?
Construction: 9 months builder business model), External products 07 Laundry There was a lot of thought put into ‘How
08 Car deck
we are taking steps to make Roofing and external walls: Bathrooms 09 Deck does the roof go together?’. It was going to
Practice architecture more relevant Dimondek 400 Ebony Vanity and cabinetry: Fluid 10 Stairs be a pretty strong presentation of the house
Box™ and more accessible to the Windows and doors: Interiors – Birch Select plywood
because that’s what you see from the road.
09 520 5030 95 per cent. Windowmakers Basin(s): Chesters, Waterware
info@box.co.nz Skylights and louvres: Velux and Plumbline Super The roof itself is a tin roof sloping back to an
box.co.nz Project team Tapware and shower fittings: external fascia gutter, just to keep it simple
Tim Dorrington, Internal products Plumbline Como really and mitigate any risk factor of leaking.
Practice profile Duncan Thomas – Box™ Internal walls and ceilings: Toilet: Robertson Parisi
Box™ was founded on the Elephant Plasterboard Underfloor heating: Warmup How do the materials balance and respond to
basic principle that architects Builder Flooring: Vienna Woods Skylight: Velux
the site?
and builders must work Markus Ashton, Lighting: Lightplan Tiling: Mobile Ceramics –
together and work better to Warren Kelsey – Box™ Paints and varnishes: white matt There’s a lot of wood – it’s a bach [setting]
bring down the cost of well- Resene – Black White Lighting: Lightplan – and, to my mind, that sits well. We have
designed homes. We are the Consultants Heating: West City Heating recessed downlights hardwood decking, cedar screens, timber
only registered architectural Project manager: Fireplace: Bosca Woodburner floor and timber lining inside. The cladding
practice and master builder Nat Holloway – Box™ Outdoor is tin, because it’s deemed to be more robust
combined in New Zealand and Engineer: Sullivan Hall Kitchen Paving/Decking: Vitex
in that environment. You can imagine, if it
our end-to-end model tries Quantity surveyor: Cabinetry: Fluid Interiors – Lighting: Lightplan – Roof and external wall cladding Stools
to extract the efficiencies of Bob Wijdeveld – Box™ White Melamine Arctic White Cast Step IP67 light, Dimondek 400 Ebony, with its broad, angular ribs and The powder-coated aluminium or ply A2 stool has were a painted house and you had to erect
working together in design and Interior designer: Cabinetry hardware: Cast IP67 inground uplight wide pans, was used for both the roof cladding and the cross rails in aluminium or solid oak. It is available in scaffolding around that house in a few years’
construction. Sam Elliot – Box™ Hardware Direct, APL, Hettich Screen: Cedar external walls (dimond.co.nz). two seat heights and nine colours (imo.co.nz). time, it would be a complete nightmare!
44 HOUSES HOUSES 45
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