A Place to Stand
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The house Amanda Yates (with her partner, Adam Rose, and their baby, Awa) designed for her parents, David and Christine, occupies a hillside site with views over Maramaratotara Bay.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
A short walk down the road, a ferry service carries passengers on the two-minute journey across the channel to the small town of Whitianga.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
A short road leads to Maramaratotara Bay.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The concrete wall mimics the slope of the hill outside as a reference to early Maori structures that were dug into the land. The simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The ceramic works on the built-in seat at right are by Raewyn Atkinson and Robyn Lewis.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The north-facing doors slide completely away to open the house to the outdoors, offering an uninterrupted view of the water. The pendant lights over the table are from Iko Iko.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
A pop of color in the kitchen cabinets refers to the native greenery outside.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The home’s sliding doors blur the boundaries between inside and out.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
In the living area, the wooden bench is part of a set Amanda designed for a 1995 play. The Miss M sofa is by New Zealand designer Simon James.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
An almost-concealed door designed as a part of the kitchen cabinetry leads to the main bedroom and en-suite bath.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Christine (at left), and Amanda (at right) chat with David’s sister Aroha Yates-Smith (center) in the kitchen.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Builder Ross Percival helped finesse the finely tuned detailing that separates the internal slope from the rock outside (opposite). The Pedro wire stool is by Craig Bond for Candywhistle.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
For now, one-year-old Awa is small enough to sleep in the hammock that hangs from the ceiling.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The shower provides a glimpse of the outdoors.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Amanda designed the upstairs studio with its own entrance and a small kitchen and bathroom for when she, Adam, and Awa come to visit.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Living so near the water the views, especially through these louvered windows, out to Maramaratotara Bay are spectacular.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Yates used the same medium density fiberboard on this bookshelf as she did on the wall in the kitchen.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The concrete bench in the living area just past the kitchen is built into the sloping wall. The Pedro wire stool is by Craig Bond for Candywhistle.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
No better way to test paint colors than to simply apply them.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Beneath the house, Adam and Awa find ample space to hand the laundry to dry.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The planks inside the house blend into those on the small porch just outside. It's a nice touch that helps marry the outdoors with the home's interior.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The hanging Iko Iko pendants in the kitchen add a vertical touch to a space and help frame the views outside.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
A small space for laundry.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The rock slope just outside is in clear sympathy with the concrete cant inside—nature right alongside architecture.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
Here's a glimpse of how easy the pull-out shelves function in the kitchen. Again, medium density fiberboard is the material Yates chose.Photo by: Matthew Williams -
The beach is never far off, and the path to get there is about as appealing as the water itself.Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Photo by: Matthew Williams
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