fearon hay architects' timber-clad forest house reconnects to its rural roots in auckland

set at the foot of auckland’s waitakere ranges, design-led studio fearon hay architects completes its timber-clad forest house in new zealand. the owners were seeking a home that enabled their family to engage with a rural lifestyle, while embracing their love of working with wood. ‘timber can be used to create solidity, warmth and mass, it can also be incredibly fine,’ explains the architect. ‘we enjoyed playing with this tension. while there are some very large and rustic elements, there is a fineness and a lightness to the enclosure and layering of it’.

all images © simon wilson + amelia holmes

the exterior shells of native wooden boards and shingle roof are founded over cast in-situ concrete masses, bracketing the interior spaces within, and adding a weight of strength to the voluminous interiors. fearon hay installed dark timber floors that flow onto the wooden verandahs, grassed laws and concrete paved courtyards. sliding shutters of solid timber staves enclose the verandah spaces, allowing flexibility of enclosure and exposure to the elements. 

the architect’s aim was to display the tenant’s vast timber collection

the internal floor area is approximately 600 square meters

the interior uses a combination of concrete and timber

dark timber floors are installed to flow onto the wooden verandahs

sliding shutters of solid timber staves enclose the verandah spaces

the location of the exclusive residence

an external view of the forest house amidst the new zealand nature

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