Paremoremo House

The design needed to make the most of its site, incorporate sustainable principals, be affordable and provide a cozy and practical family home for four, whilst meeting the clients’ design sensibilities. Working closely with the clients from the start, the concept of strongly defined floor and roof planes, with spaces arranged in the void between them, drove the design. We also wanted a simple rectangular floor plan, to minimise construction complexity and cost. While a variety of design responses were explored, they all played within these same parameters.

A significant breakthrough in the design process was finding a supplier who could 3D print concrete. This inspired a shift away from timber cladding and rectilinear forms, to plastered concrete, which allowed the internal and external corners of the pods to be curved — an effect that organically softens the design’s edges in contrast with the strict lines of the floor and roof planes. The final design features several self contained, pod-like rooms that demarcate spaces as bedrooms, bathrooms and functional areas. The negative space outside these pods then forms the entry hall, combined living/dining/kitchen space, and the master bedroom.

One objective with the design was to deliver architectural impact within a fairly modest budget. The floor plate is a single concrete slab, and the roof is constructed from very low profile trusses that create the illusion of a flat plane. The pods are formed from 3D printed concrete elements that play a structural role in the construction. These are finished with an off-white render. Between the pods, full height glazing opens each room up to the outside, and each bedroom pod along the front elevation of the house also has direct access to the outdoors.

With its solid concrete construction and double glazing, the house delivers strong, passive environmental performance. It holds its warmth when it’s cold outside, and on warm days, opening doors on the north and west facing elevations creates a natural airflow to cool the interior. Its elevated position on the property ensures it receives all-day sun and means it is protected from future flooding events. The design hunkers into the hill and stretches along the contours so every room receives a view out to the north. The house itself is modest in size with large openings to the view. The design encompasses mid century vibes, long and low and flat roofed, with roof trusses sitting directly on the walls. Concrete finish for the most part has been plastered although the original has been left in a couple of areas. Flooring is concrete slab floor, joinery is aluminium. Bathrooms are tiled walls and floor. The 3D printing means that curves and different forms can be easily achieved. The panels are printed off site, delivered by truck and then lifted into place on site.