2019 Auckland Architecture Awards Winner
The Blackbird
A small rear site up a slope with shared access, an unusual outlook, a busy and ugly road below and a very tight budget: you take what you can get if you want to build a home close to town in Auckland. And then you do something utterly delightful with it. Kate Rogan’s home for her own family is a simple two-storey box, made glamorous by its cladding of black vertical sheet metal corrugate, and full of surprises within. Even on the limited site, exterior courtyards and play areas enlarge the space and provide flexible options for outdoor life. The stairway and hall upstairs are generously proportioned, making the house feel bigger than it really is. The bathrooms are marvels of space efficiency. There’s an extra room whose use will evolve as the children grow, while the service area to the side is very smartly treated. There’s even room for a scullery with storage. With a pleasing interplay of geometric shapes in the main living/kitchen area and some lovely touches in the fittings and detailing, this is a home that celebrates family life with simple homespun beauty.
- Practice
- Rogan Nash Architects Limited
- Category
- Housing
- Location
- Auckland
