Black Duck House by Bergendy Cooke in New Zealand

Project: Black Duck House
Architects: Bergendy Cooke
Location: New Zealand
Area: 3,875 sq ft
Photographs: Provided by Bergendy Cooke

Black Duck House by Bergendy Cooke

Bergendy Cooke has completed the construction of the Black Duck House located in New Zealand's historic mining area. The beauty of this modern dwelling lies in its intimate connection with the captivating natural landscapes surrounding it. Its 3,785 square feet of interior space is designed to maximize this natural blessing throughout the home.

Set on a site covered with wild thyme and pink rose hips, located in historic mining dump sites on rocky, dry, and sometimes lifeless terrain, the house had to be protected from the elements without hiding from its extraordinary environment.

Based on this, we integrated the house into the hillside slope (as were the former stone mineral shelters still visible further up the valley) and opened views to the river below and the family vineyard above.

The courtyard, located south of the main living area, defined the typical orthogonal floor plan, offering a necessary secondary protected outdoor space and an opportunity to grow an abundance of garden that directly contrasts with the harsh external environment. Smaller courtyards on the east and west offer various extended living scenarios and enhance the transparency of the entire building.

Inspired by rocky topography, precast concrete walls were chosen as the primary method of wall construction. A gently sloped roof, clad with tiles from the site, reinforces the idea that the house is truly built into the landscape. Stone from the site alternating with precast concrete creates the exterior walls. A rusted steel cladding around the entrance and garage forms the outer palette, while interior wood paneling and wooden furniture elements provide a warmer contrast to the robust exterior appearance.

–Bergendy Cooke