Touch The Earth Lightly

NEIL KIESER DESIGNER.
AN AWARD WINNING HOME IN HARMONY WITH THE LANDSCAPE

Built in a powerful 70 acre bush landscape on two levels the building has been skillfully integrated to minimise site disturbance. Influenced by Glen Murcutt’s “Touch the earth lightly” philosophy the house sits on lightweight steel frames giving a floating sensation.

“House at Maungakawa” designed by Neil Keiser was judged winner of the category of single residential dwelling in the 2002 National James Hardie A.D.N.Z awards.

While this is a significant achievement what is impressive is that the house also received the best residential interior award, the best kitchen award, the best bathroom award and the runner up Resene paints colour award in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty A.D.N.Z. awards.



A seven metre high Zincalume® tower anchors one end of the building while at the other a floating kwila deck projects toward heartland Waikato. The site adjoins the  Maungakawa Reserve and has panoramic views over the Waikato basin  and a close connection with the surrounding bush. The views to the north are bush filled and a breathtaking contrast to the patchwork of lush Waikato farmland in the east. Finished in a natural silver grey Zincalume® and rich redwood, the house displays a simple unassuming site relationship that quickly distinguishes it from the usual urban styrene.
The steel structure allowed for the extensive use of wide span exterior sliding glass walls. In summer these doors stack to allow completely flexible and adjustable outdoor living and level connection to the expansive kwila decking. Such is the openness and height of the interior that wood pigeon and fantail fly through the living space.

 Wall height, pitch of roof, angle and distance of overhang have been designed to allow maximum sun in winter and full internal shade in summer. A dark charcoal tinted concrete floor in the centre of the house absorbs the suns heat during the winters day and dissipates that heat at night. The house also boasts zoned underfloor heating and solar hot water.

This is a strong, raw but elegant building that has pushed the boundaries of the design process. Throughout the process materials have been used in their raw state including steel, concrete, granite, Zincalume®, aluminum, porcelain ceramic and glass. Stick insect like structure sets the rhythm for the house and the strong dynamic contemporary internal space. 
Corrugated Zincalume® was chosen as the predominant cladding element because Keiser considers it to be a kiwi icon. It is strong light and durable and can be used in its raw honest state. It provides a strong, horizontal lineality and can take on a green hue of reflected adjacent bush. Fixed horizontally it provides the minimal number of joints and is largely maintenance free.