Tucked snuggly into a clifftop site with incomparable views of both ocean and bush, Outpost is striking in its apparent simplicity, composed as a moment of stillness amid the wild beauty of Waiheke Island, a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland. The project, by Libby Elmore and Oli Booth of Elmore Booth, started a decade ago, with the construction of a 10-square-metre hut, commissioned so the owners could enjoy the island while concentrating on the extensive regeneration of the sloping terrain. This sequence of events provided a singular opportunity, allowing both client and architect to gain a rare familiarity with the site and the climatic conditions, and to design the new, larger-scale home.

“We wanted to find a mechanism that would allow us to reveal the expansive views gently and create surprise in the experience of them.”

Elmore explains that a goal for this project was to create something that was ‘of’ the land. This was achieved through both the low-lying form and the landscaping by Xanthe White Design that features planted mounds to visually embed the home into the site. “We love how the house appears to oscillate in and out of the landscape from the front facade,” she continues. “It feels deeply embedded into the landscape around. It creates a sense of intrigue for what’s to come when you glimpse views through the house and out the other side.”

Architecture and interior design by Elmore Booth. Build by GB Carpentry. Landscape design by Xanthe White Design. Selected furniture by Tim Webber