A difficult hillside site is transformed by a simple yet compact layout and economical architecture to bring comfort and delight to the owner’s family. Robust metal cladding, the thoughtful crafting of ordinary materials into attractive functional elements, and punchy colour inspired by a nearby kōwhai tree are mainstays of the design. The rigour and performance of the Passivehaus design discretely incorporates a super-insulated building envelope and cleverly concealed ventilating system.