Grounded Warmth – House at Sailors Grave by Sophie Hamer

Aligned with its weathered surrounds, House at Sailors Grave exudes a rich materiality that grounds the residence in place. Sophie Hamer draws from the palette of deep tones and textures of the client’s prized collection of Asia-Pacific treasures to honour the landscape, creating a home that bunkers into its rugged site.

Positioned in a rural and remote landscape, House at Sailors Grave has humble beginnings. Restrained in both form and scale, the residence encourages a feeling of immersion and fosters a series of deeply resonating experiences within that connect both people and place. Instead of being driven by form or style, the narrative of the home is one of its owners – their international travels and time lived overseas – and how those chapters inform the abode’s character. Sophie Hamer proposes a form that is engaging, with large, uninterrupted views from the encasing silhouette allowing for the changing scenes to alter the overall impression.

Restrained in both form and scale, the residence encourages a feeling of immersion and fosters a series of deeply resonating experiences within that connect both people and place.

Navigating a sloping site in the Coromandel Peninsula, the home embraces its setting as a place of rest and recharge, one that is intrinsically connected to the natural surrounds. Timber elements present both inside and out instil a sense of warmth and texture that can be felt throughout. Entering the residence, one is met with interior features that further elevate the deep tones and tactile surfaces inspired by place. Having previously worked as aid workers in South-East Asia, the owners wanted to introduce simplicity and a grounded feeling of authentic living.

Regarding the home as an extension of its owners’ characters is not only evident in the design and planning but also in the construction. As a means of navigating budget constraints and achieving an affordable outcome, the owners also actively participated in the building process alongside skilled craftspeople. As such, an honest approach to overseeing how different parts came together strengthened their connection to the residence and left a lasting impression. Combining rough concrete benches, hand-stained timber ply panels and the use of cedar in select areas creates a timeless sanctuary suitable for its context. Unfolding as two distinct wings, the house follows the existing contours of the landscape. The integration of dedicated outdoor spaces, which are protected from the elements, also contributes to moments of quietude and adds another layer of reprieve.

Navigating a sloping site in the Coromandel Peninsula, the home embraces its setting as a place of rest and recharge, one that is intrinsically connected to the natural surrounds.

Gracefully coalescing place and form, the architect creates a perfect fusion of past and present with House at Sailors Grave. By drawing contrasting elements together, Sophie Hamer ensures the home retains a softness amid a rugged landscape.