Nelson, New Zealand
Similar in nature to a studio apartment, this 42 square meters house, created by William Samuels Architect, has been designed to be fit for purpose, a comfortable home for a couple that allows for a high degree of liveability without the need for compromise.
Named the Studio House, the structure is relocatable, allowing it to be easily moved which informed the physical constraints of the house.
The architects developed a series of interconnected modules that can be removed from their foundations and individually relocated, each within the maximum dimensions of a trailer.
To create a greater sense of volume within the narrow modules they are joined via an open “pinwheel” plan, where each functional space within the home connects to a larger conjoined central area, resulting in a series of spaces with shared volumes.
If required, additional modules can be added at a later point to add bedrooms, workspaces, or other areas.
The house in its present form is by no means the finished entity, rather it is a manifestation of the needs of this moment in time and is likely to grow and evolve as those needs change.
The primary formal gesture is the creation of high barrel-vaulted ceilings within each module.
Large format curved windows at the ends of each barrel bring in light and provide an outlook towards tree canopies whilst maintaining a sense of privacy from the neighbors.
The window frames are hidden within the wall cavity, creating the appearance of a void, or opening at the end of each vault.
A loft above the bathroom provides a secondary living space within the heart of a barrel vault, a cozy reading room with a stunning outlook.
Natural materials have been selected wherever possible, and no paint has been used in this project.
Though small, the Studio House attempts to tackle some big ideas.
As an exploration of an affordable path to home ownership, a more sustainable approach to building, and a testament to the liveability of smaller spaces, the house serves as a model for an alternate mode of living and as a radical departure in how we think about “home.”
Project: Studio House
Architects: William Samuels Architects
Structural Engineer: Gary Hodder
Photographers: Simon Devitt
