McKenzie House, a musician’s bachelor pad | Bonnifait + Giesen

August 16, 2013

A small dwelling sits in the middle of an apple orchard in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. A young musician seeking privacy and space to work opted to have his own small house built in the family orchard. Though not far from the family home, the surrounding trees provide a sense of isolation. The house doubles as a music studio, giving the musician a place to rehearse and record without being interrupted or disturbing his family.

Architects Cecile Bonnifait and William Giesen from Atelierworkshop designed the house, taking inspiration from both the nearby main house and agricultural buildings in the area. The house is a basic cube with a pyramidal roof, a shape chosen for compatibility with the main residence. Looking like an ordinary shed with its simple shape and metal finish, it fits right in with its orchard setting.

The small house has 80 m² (861 ft²) over its two-level floor plan. The living/dining room with vaulted ceiling has window walls on three sides. The kitchen is just to the side, under the overhanging loft. Tucked behind the kitchen is a small study on one side and a bathroom with extra storage on the other side. The bathroom features a shower with large window.

Stairs lead up to the loft bedroom. The peak of the pyramid roof is off-center, increasing the headroom in the loft. Windows in the loft frame views over the treetops to the nearby Tukituki River and distant mountain ranges.

To keep costs down, the finishes were kept basic. The concrete, plywood and steel finishes are attractive and durable while being relatively inexpensive. The concrete foundation slab doubles as the finish floor, saving on flooring. Plywood sheets were used to line the walls and ceiling. The bedroom closets and kitchen and bath open-shelf storage are just simple plywood boxes, eliminating expensive cabinetry. A low-cost accent wall was created using spaced wood slats, mimicking old-fashioned apple crates.

Atelierworkshop also designed the Port-a-bach shipping container cabin, which was similarly fitted out using plywood.

Enjoy the photo tour!