The Crossing – a bold, dynamic building with elements of rural architecture

Originally, there were endless pastures for cattle here; today, in the harsh landscape of New Zealand, stands a private villa named The Crossing.

The project was tailored for a writer who values a quiet and inspiring environment for his creative work, and it is meant to be a home suitable for gathering friends. Architects from 2 Architects created a contemporary building incorporating elements of local rural architecture for him.

A limited yet precisely chosen palette of materials is confined to concrete, steel, and cedar wood. These materials reference the traditional architecture of local farm buildings. The dramatic and bold form of the house significantly distinguishes it from surrounding buildings. The sophisticated location at the top of a hill overlooking the bay offers spectacular views from the panoramic windows.

The front-glazed facade of the house is made up of large-format windows, blurring the boundary between the interior and exterior spaces. The shaping of the windows follows the multiple angles of the roofline. The building is clad in a metal shell that continuously covers both the walls and the roof. The neutral color of the building’s shell is complemented by cedar wood panels treated with oil in the interior, predominantly black furnishings, and a concrete floor. Steel incorporated into the interior takes the form of a built-in loft situated directly above the kitchen.

The structure of the house is defined by two main axes. A long north-south axis follows a 10-meter concrete corridor leading from the entrance door through the entire house. The second axis crosses the house from west to east. The resulting intersection of the axes gave the entire project its name - The Crossing. It also naturally divides the space into "dark" and "light." The dark part includes the private areas of the owners, while the light part comprises the communal living area.

The idea of light and dark spaces was truly brought to life by the lighting solution. The lighting project was a fundamental element of the entire design from the very beginning. It was addressed systematically from the onset of the study for the house. Architects from 2 Architects entrusted this task to the lighting technicians from Delta Light. The light space is defined by a glass wall, behind which is a multifunctional living area with a kitchen and dining room. The communal space, framed by cedar cladding, naturally requires a more intense lighting solution than the dark part, which is dominated by black tones and is suitable for a more subdued lighting approach. This light contrast is the conceptual idea of the entire project.

More information about the project can be found here: http://www.svitidla-deltalight.cz/reference