This family retreat is arranged as a series of low concrete structures positioned around a sheltered courtyard above Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island. The site lies within a natural saddle overlooking the Hauraki Gulf, where the landform provides protection from prevailing winds while opening outward to distant views of Rangitoto and Auckland.

Architects Fearon Hay broke up the plan into four separate pavilions rather than a single volume. Each is defined by a distinct roof plane, housing living, sleeping and studio functions independently while maintaining a close relationship to the central outdoor space. Movement between the structures takes place across the courtyard, reinforcing the sense of the house as a small, self-contained settlement.

Concrete forms are embedded into the contours of the site, anchoring the buildings to the terrain. The restrained palette allows the surrounding vegetation and shifting coastal light to remain dominant. Completed in 2011, the house received a New Zealand Architecture Award the same year and was later shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival. It’s on sale with Wall, price on application.

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Exposed timber runs through this converted barn in the Cotswolds