Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri, a coastal residence by Olson Kundig, has been completed on New Zealand’s North Island. Sited among the dunes and Pohutukawa trees of Mangawhai, the project reinterprets the modest architectural language of the bach, a style of beach house typical to the area.
Approached by a winding drive through shifting sands and native vegetation, the house gradually appears as a quiet extension of its landscape. Its low-slung form and concrete exterior echo the grain and tone of the surrounding terrain. A curving roof anchors the composition, casting controlled light and sheltering the structure from the high-exposure coastal environment.
‘One of my favorite parts of this project is the roof design,’ says Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, Design Principal. ‘We developed what we called ‘the surfboard’ — a roof structure that curves both above and below. This unique shape not only channels water efficiently but also shapes how light enters the space below.’
Olson Kundig建筑事务所的设计团队将Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri滨海别墅隐藏到新西兰的海岸景观中,不会让人们一眼看清,而是建筑在周围景观的衬托中缓缓露出全貌。别墅大门是钢质材料,场地上设计有3座单体建筑,建筑表面材质为当地黏土,紧临海边的一面设计了冲浪板般的弧形屋顶,它们共同围合形成一个院落。建筑屋顶颜色与天空相近,模糊了彼此之间的界限,且屋顶设计成亮面,能够反射泳池和海面的光线,加强了建筑与自然景观之间的联系。建筑设计有可升降的玻璃幕墙和推拉门,使得室内外空间可来回转换,加强庭院、内部空间与周围景观之间的联系。
The architects at Olson Kundig hide Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri among New Zealand’s coastal landscape so that it might unfold gradually upon approach. A steel gate leads to a central courtyard framed by three earthen wings and a floating roof plane, which blurs at its edges into the sky. The surface of the roof reflects light from the adjacent pool and ocean beyond, softening the threshold between structure and landscape. Guillotine glazing and sliding walls connect the courtyard to the open-plan living areas and exterior deck, creating continuity between interior and exterior zones.
‘One of the most compelling parts of this home is how the experience unfolds through the courtyard,’ Kundig elaborates. ‘As you enter, the architecture opens up, guiding you through the courtyard to the shoreline. The structure seems to dissolve into the horizon, blurring the line between interior and exterior.’
The architect continues: ‘New Zealand has such a high-exposure, coastal environment. We created a refined shutter system that transforms the space with a simple gesture and responds dynamically to that environment. It opens and closes to protect the interior from harsh winds while allowing it to fully open to the shoreline in calm conditions.’
△ Olson Kundig建筑事务所在新西兰北岛上设计了Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri滨海别墅
Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri is a coastal home designed by Olson Kundig on New Zealand’s North Island
Kundig认为建筑的好坏不能仅靠眼睛去评判,还要去真实体验感受。当人们穿梭在Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri滨海别墅中时,会觉得世间万物都联系在了一起,如室内、室外、植被与海景都紧密相连。只有身临其境,才能够感受到建筑与庭院、海岸景观之间的互动。
Inside the New Zealand beach house, Olson Kundig introduces a restrained material palette of concrete, teak, and stone, bringing together regional textures with careful detailing. Teak-paneled ceilings and custom cabinetry carry a weathered quality, resembling sun-bleached driftwood. Bedrooms are oriented for privacy and views, each with a path leading directly to the nearby wetlands and beach.
‘Architecture is experiential — it’s something that must be felt physically, not just seen,’ says Kundig. ‘As you move through Te Whare Tupu Kirikiri, it seems to float and open up, creating a connection to the landscape. The way the architecture engages with both the protected courtyard and the distant horizon is something you have to experience to fully understand.’
△ 建筑设计有混凝土弧形屋顶,可反射海景光线,还能够有效排水
a curving concrete roof with softened edges reflects light and channels water
△ 该建筑融合于沙丘之中,四周围合着自然景观,如Pohutukawa丛林,建筑与景观整体犹如一幅美画
the structure is embedded in dunes and framed by native Pohutukawa trees
△ 别墅大门为钢质,庭院四周围合有3座本地黏土建造而成的单体建筑,其立面上设计有玻璃幕墙
a steel gate leads to a central courtyard framed by glass walls and earthen wings
△ 建筑设计有可调节百叶窗与推拉门,能够根据海岸环境的变换选择打开或关闭
operable shutters and sliding walls allow the house to adapt to shifting coastal conditions
△ 建筑室内采用多种材料,如混凝土、柚木和石材等,共同组成具有当地地域风格的装修效果
a restrained palette of concrete teak and stone brings regional textures into the minimalist interior
△ 卧室可直通室外,到达湿地海岸
bedrooms open to direct paths through native wetlands