Summary
- Openfield House is a rural home in New Zealand’s Crown Range that blends geometry with nature
- Its design references local sheds and features a large circular skylight on the roof
- Designed by architect Keshaw McArthur in collaboration with Matheson Whiteley
Set within the expansive mountainscape of New Zealand‘s Crown Range, Openfield House exists as an object of pure geometry. Envisioned by architect Keshaw McArthur in collaboration with UK-based Matheson Whiteley, the home features an “unfussy and honest” design that intentionally blurs the lines between interior and exterior spaces.
Its form is deliberately straightforward, emphasizing a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape. Its square plan and corrugated roof design are reminiscent of agricultural sheds and huts found in the area, while also serving as an aesthetic homage to the land’s historical context. A distinctive circular skylight punctuates the roof, introducing natural light into the upper-floor bedroom and fostering an immersive spatial experience.
A large open fireplace acts as a central anchor for the building. The building incorporates solid concrete masses that emerge from the ground, visually extending the mountainous terrain into the architectural composition. These concrete forms support a series of cedar-clad volumes that sit beneath a simple metal roof, reinforcing the interplay between solidity and warmth.
The layout further enhances its connection to nature by strategically positioning structural concrete elements away from the outer edges. This arrangement creates a continuous perimeter space influenced by the Japanese concept of engawa, a covered transitional zone akin to a verandah. By adopting this feature, the design enables a fluid interaction between indoor and outdoor areas, complemented by the shelter provided by the roof’s extended eaves.
Take a look around the Openfield House in the gallery above.
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