Cupped Immersion – Bowden House by Belinda George Architects and Mandeno Design Ltd

Burrowed into the hillside of its sloping cliffside site, Bowden House turns its back to the ocean and instead focussed on becoming an immersed element within the landscape. Belinda George Architects in association with Mandeno Design Ltd. combine a textural and natural approach, to imbed a sense of warmth and enclosure.

Remotely located in Tutakaka, north of Auckland, Bowden House takes on a consistently arced form, cupping its residents as a place of considered shelter amongst the elements. Despite its proximity to the ocean, and the temptation to openly embrace such a location with full height glazing outward, the form takes a more anchored approach. Choosing instead to focus on the landscape and its unique flora and foliage sees the form nestled back into the site, instead of projecting out. From a nostalgic connection to the site, the owners bring previous experiences and a known familiarity with the land, to inform their brief and their inward focus. In association with Mandeno Design Ltd., Belinda George Architects carefully form a series of connected spaces that incite memory.

From a nostalgic connection to the site, the owners bring previous experiences and a known familiarity with the land, to inform their brief and their inward focus.

Built by Pete Brown Builders, Bowden House beats to its own drum. From afar the form resembles more of a public structure or community form, instead of the traditional residential vernacular. In its defiance of complying to the expected, the home becomes a true experience of its own making, while also being a welcomed addition to the landscape. Following the curved ridge it sits upon, and pushing its back into the hill, the home feels protected and protective of its owners. Intended as a summer vacation home, a sense of open connectedness forms a key element of the brief, with a journey to engage with the ocean views.

The curved linear plan sees rooms form alongside one another, arcing outward while being connected through an internal corridor spine. An open courtyard becomes the centre of the home, with the living and sleeping areas to either side, while still allowing for a visual connection to remain. The feeling of encampment is captured through the need to engage with nature when changing from one space to another – ensuring an interaction with sounds, smells and sights not normally felt when fully and continuously enclosed. A richly natural palette encases the form, and is brought inward, disguising the form amongst the native bush, and creating warmth at the same time.

In its defiance of complying to the expected, the home becomes a true experience of its own making, while also being a welcomed addition to the landscape.

As a response to the surrounds instead of imposing upon it, Bowden House is conceived from a place of sensitivity, seeing Belinda George Architects and Mandeno Design Ltd. propose an idyllic and removed hideaway.