Jonathan Livingston Seagull

by Conor Dolman

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an open plan studio which hovers above the platform of its hilly Eastbourne site. Cloaked in a jacket of silvered timber, the building’s folded roof is designed to create the impression of a seagull wing. From the interior, this forms a fold in the ceiling that crosses the space from corner to corner.

A raised plinth on the west side of the studio separates the sleeping area from the living area without needing a physical partition. The plinth is positioned to give the sleeping area an unobstructed view towards Matiu/Somes Island in the middle of Wellington’s harbour. Plywood linings have been used throughout the interior to make the space feel comfortable and familiar. The warmth of the interior contrasts the rough timber cladding which was chosen to complement harshness of the site and the natural qualities of the surrounding vegetation.