OVERVIEW

Construction system based on pre-fabricated components allows Modernist in style in a palette of dark timber with floor-to-ceiling glass, the two-storey house is
development on a previously unbuildable site – also allows for planned around a central staircase encased in a ribcage of battens that lets light into the middle
savings in cost and time in construction, and high level of design of the building - and no corridors mean no wasted space. Oriented for passive solar gain and
quality and energy efficiency. with concrete floors to capture and slowly release the heat, energy efficiency is integral to the
planning.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Box modular philosophy inhabits a sector of the market that sits midway between bespoke
architecture and the products that generic house building companies offer. By opting for a
Located in the heart of Remuera, the north-facing section was so
modular, partly pre-fabricated design, the owners were able to buy a section that many had
steep and problematic that it had been on the market for several
discounted as too difficult. And by using a system that is standardised in some ways, yet
years. The challenge with this project was to construct a family
personalised in others, they achieved a much more affordable home.
home with three bedrooms and two living areas on a near
vertiginous site that also had complicated issues with access.

Box, a design-and-build company that has developed a modular

system of construction which means many elements of the
structure are standardised and able to be prefabricated off-site.
Box™ uses a post-and-beam structure and a kitset of parts
which means cost-savings are made both in the design stages
and on site, since the houses can be constructed in a shorter
time-frame. Standardised components in a Box™ home include
the posts, beams, wall panels, glazing panels, brackets and
stainless-steel cross braces that anchor the structure.

On this site – the result was significant savings in terms of time

and cost over a standard construction metholodgy.

Box architect Tim Dorrington designed this home to a modular

grid, in response to the site and the owners’ requirements. Using
increments of material sizes meant less off-cuts - better for the
budget and for the environment. Although the dwelling
accommodates a family of five, its footprint is a modest 168
square metres. A driveway slivered alongside a Victorian cottage
at street level leads to a mechanised turning platform for cars.
From here the owners must descend by foot via a set of stairs to
the home below.
Looking towards the North-West elevation of the house - Basset Road in the background.
2
KEY PROJECT INFORMATION
HOUSING TYPE DENSITY ARCHITECT & DESIGN TEAM YEAR COMPLETED
DETACHED 31 DW/HA BOX LIVING DESIGN & BUILD 2013

Project architect: Tim Dorrington

Photographs provided by: Emma-
Jane Hetherington

SITE AREA PROJECT TYPE CLIENT/DEVELOPER PRICE BAND

315 M² MODULAR RESIDENTIAL NOT RELEASED FOR PRIVACY MID-RANGE
HOME - DESIGN AND BUILD
Located in the middle of Remuera. A mid-range project would typically have a
Built footprint: 160 M² current build cost of $2000 - $3000 per m²,
A north facing rear section on an exclusive of land costs, professional services
extremely steep sight. 4 Bedrooms, open plan living, and regulatory fees
kitchen and dinning, pool and
generous lawn space provided
at the rear.

Standardised components in
PARKING
this Box home include the posts,
FRONT ACCESS
WITH SEPARATE TURNING beams, wall panels, glazing
PLATFORM panels, brackets and stainless-
steel cross braces that anchor
The driveway from the street leads to
the rear section. Site constraints led to a the structure.
separate parking structure at the top of
the site, with the house accessed by
stairs at the bottom.

3
 UNDERSTANDING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
1. The neighbourhood is in the inner suburb of
Remuera. Bassett Road was originally developed
in the late 19th- early 20th century, with infill
development occurring over the intervening
years. 2 1
2. The neighbouring houses towards the street are
traditional Auckland bay villas most likely dating
from the beginning of the 20th century. The steep
sites to the rear have been developed much
more recently.

3. The land slopes steeply from the street down to a

flatter area at the rear that borders a stream. This 3
gully is filled with mature trees, and provide a
park like setting for the house.

Looking towards the North-West elevation of the house - Basset Road in the background.

4
GETTING IT RIGHT PLACING THE BUILDINGS ON THE SITE
1. The split level house incorporates part of the level
change of the site within the design of the building, as
part of the top floor is pushed back into the slope.
Using the slope of the site in the design of the house
2
maximises the amount of flat open space to the rear
of the property.

2. Separating the parking structure from the house was

a key factor in the design. This kept the cost of
retaining and excavation down by locating the house 1
on the lower, flatter part of the site and not extending
the driveway down to the house. Access to the house
is via a set of stairs – while this a relatively steep
climb, the owners appreciate the decision has
resulted in a better house design and reduced
construction costs.
3
3. The Box Living system of a prefabricated components
allowed this property owner to build on a site with
significant constraints because much of the house
was able to be fabricated off site, craned into
place, and as such difficulties of construction
access was solved.

North – West elevation of the house.

5
 GETTING IT RIGHT SITE DESIGN
1. The house is a split level design that incorporates
the slope of the site into layout of the house. This
minimises retaining wall heights, and the amount
of cut and fill onsite – an important consideration
given the cost of removing fill. 3
2. The area outside the bedrooms uses a mix of low
retaining and a landscaped slope to provide an
outlook for the rooms. Once, the vegetation
matures over time it will provide a good visual
backdrop.

3. The house sits within a secluded , private, park

like setting which has a large number of mature
trees. The onsite landscaping plays a secondary
role to this backdrop.

4. The long, rectangular shapes of the building

create a series of forms that define different
spaces with differing levels of privacy. The front 4 1
porch is the formal entry to the house, there is an
upstairs courtyard to the east accessed off the
bedrooms, and the upper floor projects over and
shelters the private outdoor space to the rear.

2
The house is a split level design that incorporates the slope of the site into layout of the house.

6
 GETTING IT RIGHT THE BUILDING
1. The material palette is modernist in style with dark
timber and floor-to-ceiling glass which maximises the
amount of light that can enter the house. The dark
color scheme is intended to help the house blend into
the landscaped backdrop.

2. The house is oriented north for passive solar gain and 3

has concrete floors to capture and slowly release the
heat during the day. Energy efficiency was integral to
the planning, - the house is fully double glazed, and is
insulated to above building code standards. 2 1
3. The post and beam construction system means the 4
exterior wall panels between the posts are non-
structural. Walls can have floor to ceiling windows, or a
range of different materials. Box gutter and flat roof
form is critical to the success of the architectural
design of the house.

4. Maximising views out to the surrounding landscape

and natural bush along with the prominent ridge of
newmarket park were the key parts of the client’s brief.

The house is oriented north for passive solar gain.

7
 GETTING IT RIGHT THE BUILDING
1. The kitchen and dinning space are located on the east
side of the building to capture morning sun and create
a sunny warm space for breakfast.

2. Service and circulation spaces, where direct sunlight is

not so important, are located along the south side or in
the middle of the house.

3. Living and dining areas are used mostly in the

afternoon or evening, so are located for solar gain
occupant comfort during these times of day.
2
4. The internal form of the house is open and flexible -
allowing for the house to adapt to the families changing 1
requirements over the years.

5. Large floor to ceiling sliding doors allow most of the

rear of the house to be open to the garden. Large
amounts of glazing and a high stud height make the
house feel light and spacious.
5

4 3

Internal shot showing the open plan living conditions and indoor to outdoor flow of the house.

8
 GETTING IT RIGHT THE BUILDING
1. The houses is designed around a central staircase
which is encased in a frame of open battens. Floor to
ceiling glazing on the first floor enables sun light into
the middle of the house, and this is filtered into the
middle of the ground floor through the open staircase

2. The house has no corridors – minimising wasted

space. Here the circulation space at the top of the
stairs has been expanded to create a functional
second lounge with access to a deck.

2
1

Internal shot showing the circulation space and its interaction with the communal family area and bedrooms.

9
 GETTING IT RIGHT OUTDOOR SPACES
1. The rear garden and pool area opens directly out
from the main living area. The native bush and exotic
vegetation provides privacy from the neighbours. A
partly screened service area has been carefully
located off the laundry and secondary family area
which provides the water tank, fold out clothes line
and the recycling bins.

2. The house is set into the slope of the site, which

maximises the amount of flat area in the back yard.
The landscape design has concentrated on making
the most of the existing mature trees.
3
3. The master bedroom has floor to ceiling windows to
allow views over the backyard and surrounding 1
planting.

4. The private garden and courtyard is not overlooked

by the neighbouring houses due to the significant
vegetation that surrounds these spaces. 4 5
5. Clear glazing around the pool allows views through to
the landscape beyond.
2

The rear garden and pool area opens directly out from the main living area.

10
 GETTING IT RIGHT ACCOMMODATING THE
CAR

1. Designing the parking as a completely separate

structure to the house was a fundamental
decision in the design process and helped keep
costs down. Extending the driveway further down
the site would have been complex and expensive
because of the steep slope; and building the
house on the lower, flatter section meant
construction required less retaining.

2. The mechanised turning platform is the only

practical way of getting onsite maneuvering –
without which the development would not have
been able to proceed.

2
1

The mechanised turning platform is the only practical way of getting onsite maneuvering.

11
GETTING IT RIGHT SITE PLAN

Site Plan.

12
GETTING IT RIGHT FLOOR PLANS

Ground floor level.

13
GETTING IT RIGHT FLOOR PLANS

First floor level.

14
GETTING IT RIGHT ELEVATIONS

East elevation.

15
GETTING IT RIGHT ELEVATIONS

North elevation.

16