By Solarei Architecture
River Drive House, Kerikeri, Far North, New Zealand
River Drive House is located on an open rural site facing due North over looking a river and rolling farmland. The floor plan layout prioritises living and bedrooms facing due North, and services areas to South. This achieves fully optimised passive solar, natural warmth, and an energy efficient design.
Insulated exposed concrete slabs capture and store radiant energy, as well as feature thermal mass walls.
The design maximises North views and sunlight, and opens to a large Southern olive orchard. Large roof overhangs protect corten steel cladding, and shade the house over summer. The house has 20,000L of rainwater storage for drinking, and uses an eco-cycle waste system for sewage.