Casa fuori griglia con vista sul mare

The project is to build a 2-3 bedroom off grid house on the site which maximizes the amazing views of both the sea to the east and of the forest to the north for a family of 4. The site is an empty sloping site overlooking the sea in the New Zealand. We will move there and live in the long term.

The site has been started to be developed with 3 retaining walls and all the off grid infrastructure needed in place already. The house site is on/around the retaining walls.

There is a rolling forest to the north with mature Kauri and Rimu trees and Kiwis and the site is on a hill above a lovely beach.

Climate is generally warm although there will need to be a place for a wood burner for those colder winter days. Otherwise the configuration of the house would be 2 or 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom + ensuite, kitchen. We like to cook and eat outside so some area for a BBQ or patio/deck would be nice. There is an existing garage/sleepout at the top of the site so no garage needed, although expect to use the top retaining wall for parking.

There are existing retaining wall and existing off-grid power, water and brown/black water processing system, so we are looking to plug a house into the existing infrastructure.

The site needs to conform to local planning laws, which means low-reflectivity materials/darker colours and a generally low profile (rather than a tower!).

update: 5.12 : just removed location, which I am sure you have by now

To build up with something unique and interesting that we will enjoy as family. Happy to embrace something a bit unconventional and interesting, and hopefully embracing the stepped nature of the site. We want to create a distinctive family home which we will love living in.

Hopefully something can be done to embrace the stepping on the site and take advantage of the views. We definitely are looking for a modern design, and have a good budget to allow creativity. We like natural or timber / dark materials. We have added some links and images of things we like.

update (29.10.2021) : We prefer a light-touch approach to the land, so would be against bringing too much heavy masonry or concrete ( house pad aside) onto the site, favouring timbers, steel or timber structure and decking rather than heaving paving or brick. Taking advantage of the views through openness and indoor-outdoor flow is paramount