Stepped Horizon
Mount Pleasant, Christchurch
Set within the hillside suburb of Mount Pleasant, Christchurch, this home responds directly to its contoured site and expansive coastal outlook. The low-slung form steps across the slope, orienting the living spaces toward views over Drayton Reserve and out to McCormacks Bay. Three intersecting volumes shape the plan, creating a series of sheltered outdoor spaces while allowing the home to capture sunlight throughout the day. Generous glazing and carefully positioned openings provide visual transparency east to west, strengthening the connection between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape. A restrained palette of cedar weatherboards, plastered panels and metal cladding adds depth and texture, grounding the home within its exposed hillside setting.