73
When Jeanette Smail held the house-
warming for her new home by Graeme
Cunningham, her friends applauded
him. He’d achieved just what she wanted- a house that embraced the views and
drew the sun’s warmth into an open-plan
living area.
The house sits at the top of the 1000-
square-metre section Smail and her late
husband bought in 1972 for several thousand
dollars. Below is the family home where they
raised their two daughters, and where one
daughter now lives with her two children.
Avoiding the expense of subdividing, the
120-square-metre abode is designed as a
second dwelling on the site. The two-storey
home has everything Smail needs on the
top floor, with a guest room, bathroom and
laundry downstairs.
1 — In suburban North Shore, the
home introduces an entirely new look
to the street of 60s and 70s houses.
2 — The opaque street-facing window
provides privacy and light. The stairs
lead down to a guest area and carport.
D-2
In this suburban seaside neighbourhood
on the North Shore, the home presents an
entirely fresh face. With a solid, earthy dark-
grey corrugated barrier to the street, the
lightness is only revealed once inside. From
the curb, a few stepping stones take you to
the front door – it’s an entrance that captures
the laidback nature of being by the beach.
Stairs located within the entry space form a
pivot and the house unfolds around this point.
Cunningham has played with juxtaposition
to create intrigue, and balance to create
serenity. The dark, shadowy exterior contrasts
with views that extend to Little Barrier,
Great Barrier and the Coromandel. At night,
the lighthouse at Tiritiri Matangi and ships
twinkle in the distance. The view pours in
through frameless glazing that wraps around
one corner of the living area.