Pitoitoi House
Designed for a gib-averse couple nearing retirement, Pitoitoi is a new house nestled just below the bush-clad hills of Days Bay, Wellington.
LO’CA’s way of working saw them outperform the other architects we have used – they listened better, worked harder to solve problems to our satisfaction, were always open to thinking outside the square and took on board a great deal of input from us.
–Lesley & Rick, Read more
Rick and Lesley’s new home, Pitoitoi, echoes the tranquility of the native bush backdrop that is an iconic feature of Days Bay and provides a welcoming retreat from the bustling city just a few kilometres away.
The home was conceived as two linked box forms, with a ‘tophat’ sitting over. Large windows allow light to flood through the house during the day, passively heating the concrete floor and western living spaces, while the central courtyard offers sheltered north-facing outdoor living.
We are the proud owners of a beautiful new home. In addition to its very pleasing aesthetics, it affords a seamless connection of the indoors with the outdoors, maximizes sun, is very comfortable and functional, and we expect it to be very durable.
-LESLEY AND RICK, READ MORE
Partly motivated by Rick’s woodworking interests, the house has been finished throughout with crafted timber elements, while the dark-stained cladding takes its cue from the nearby native beech trees. The exposed timber trusses provide a cost-effective but elegant roof system. They create a tight rhythm down the central spine of the hallway before spatially releasing into the living area and framing the verandah to the pōhutukawa trees and views beyond
