Prescott House, Wellington
Winner NZIA Local Awards 2007 Inspired by the wind-ravaged forms of former shipwrecks and pillar boxes at the former Fort Dorset, this project reacts to the site in a very specific way. Four copper-clad walls rise out of the dunes, overlapping to shield the house from the gusting southerly. The house is anchored around a pair of solid fireplaces to the north, pivoting around a sheltered outside courtyard and swimming pool.
The crusty copper carapace is peeled back on the warmer north side, exposing full height glazing and the double glazed skin is interspersed with timber forms that project all the way through the house. A 45 degree twist in the plan helps enclose the house for privacy, at the same time rising up to maximize the stunning views of the hills and passing ships that sail through the nearby harbour heads.
Client: Tim and Karen Prescott
