Small Impact – Biv Punakaiki by Fabric Architecture and Mark Panckurst

Inspired by the typology of miners huts, Biv Punakaiki is envisioned as the first of a series of light-footed temporary accommodation pods to be dotted across the west coast of New Zealand. Fabric Architecture and Mark Panckurst ensure a continuation of the small yet familiar forms and a connection to place, enhanced and elevated through a more modern refinement.

Located in its namesake, the Biv series references an intention to roll out numerous properties of a similar vein across a collective region to the west coast, as a way of shaping the experience of engaging with the natural landscape in New Zealand. Having looked at similarly scaled forms that enabled temporary accommodation, the modern interpretation combines a robust outer shell and a warming interior of timber, as the ideal place of shelter and retreat. Wanting to ensure an engagement of the sense in the process, an extruded porthole of sorts is crafted into the more traditional gabled roof form, lifting the eye up and out through a funnelled skylight from within. The opening both brings light down into the space while connecting to the sky above, ultimately shaping the overall silhouette by Fabric Architecture and Mark Panckurst.

The original intent was for the forms to sit lightly and have minimal impact on the landscape that they engaged with.

With the living area positioned on the lower ground level, large openings allow a free flow of movement between inside and out, opening to also ventilate the space naturally. The original intent was for the forms to sit lightly and have minimal impact on the landscape that they engaged with. Elevated from the ground plane, the structure sits on a series of concrete piles, channelling the loaded weight of the form down through a series of touchpoints, instead of a slab on ground construction methodology. Encased in metal sheeting in a darkened finish, the form sits unobtrusively and recessive amongst the landscape, allowing the location to remain the focus.

Increased insulation and key orientation ensure the spaces are naturally lit, with a tempered control of comfort from within. The design ensures no additional energy is needed to cool or heat the spaces, other than what is ingrained into the building fabric and the central heat stove, avoiding unnecessary heat loads throughout the year. With each future site expected to also come with its differences and site-specific requirements, the form can be oriented to suit. Internally, warm timber lines the walls and ceiling planes, with a polished concrete base adding needed thermal mass for energy capture and storage.

Internally, warm timber lines the walls and ceiling planes, with a polished concrete base adding needed thermal mass for energy capture and storage.

Glowing from within, Biv Punakaiki forms the ideal place to retract into and become immersed within the natural elements. Through modularity and repetition, Fabric Architecture and Mark Pankurst ensure the anticipated series of these forms will allow an increased appreciation of the west coast, enabling visitors to nestle in amongst the landscape for longer periods of time.