The clients had a clear vision: they sought a home that magnified the experience of living by the water. “Our clients sought a home for this lazy bend of the River Derwent that accentuates the drama of living at water’s edge,” Amy Hallett, Director at Topology Studio explains.

The design engages with the landscape through a harmonious interplay of enclosure and openness. A gently curving roofline descends from a deep recess in the otherwise closed façade, flowing through the interior before rising again to reveal stunning views of the river and the majestic Timtumili Minanya (Mount Wellington).

“A blank wall to the South curves to follow site contours, directing views away from the neighbours and towards the mountain on the opposite shore,” says Hallett.

This undulating ceiling, combined with the curved wall, creates a dynamic spatial journey from the entrance to the main living area, expanding and compressing the space in a gesture that feels both organic and carefully orchestrated.

Perched high to bring the water closer, the living space offers uninterrupted views of the river. “A shelf to the west frames the landscape and shades the lower floor but has no access and no balustrade to achieve uninterrupted views,” Hallett notes.

On the lower level, a bedroom is embedded in the rock, offering a sheltered outlook as the ground slopes towards the water. The west-facing wall folds back to form a deep soffit lined with suspended masonry, creating a terrace that feels like the remnant of a previous structure. Deep windows provide both privacy and functional seating, inside and out.

Selecting Sun Shading

Managing sun shading was critical to achieving a balance between comfort and views. The long northern façade features a colonnade that provides protection from the summer sun and wind, but the primary view faces west, presenting challenges with glare and heat control.

“We needed to balance the ability to shade the glass externally with having a blind system that could completely retract when not in use to avoid compromising the view,” says Hallett. The solution came in the form of programmable Warema external venetian blinds from Shade Factor. These venetians address the conflict of western views and low-level sun, allowing for full protection of the large windows from direct heat loads while maintaining the stunning views.

The venetians can be operated individually or together, tilted downwards to offer shade while preserving river views, or tilted upwards to provide privacy with views of the sky. “The blinds provide the option of dappled light across the interior, which can change the spatial dynamics of the space from openness to intimacy,” Hallett explains. When retracted, the blinds integrate seamlessly with the window frames, preserving the meticulous detailing of the facade.

Hallett emphasises the importance of a flexible option, stating, “We wanted a system that would give operational flexibility and achieve the seasonally dependent shading variations required at various times of the day.” This adaptability allows the clients to control shade and glare without compromising their view of the stunning landscape, fulfilling the vision of a home that belongs to its site and enhances the experience of living at Otago Bay.