The design process, complex due to several defining key issues inherent to the site, ended up taking us through some radically different sketch options before settling on the one that was finally pursued. These key issues were:
- The most magnificent quality of the site, the amazing ocean view, lies to the South while the sun still of course circles around the North. To focus on its unique location while getting natural light inside, the house was designed around a central void with a row of large operable(可操作的) skylights above it,angled(成角的) to the North.
- The site is surrounded by two out-of-scale apartment blocks to the North and to the West, posing privacy as well as aesthetic issues.
- Being on the ocean front also meant that the roof height, particularly to the Southern, ocean, side, had to be minimised(使缩到最小) to reduce the impact on neighbouring residents.
- While the original cottage already had wonderful views onto the rock cliffs across the bay a slight swing of the external wall suddenly opened up expansive(广阔的) open water views in addition to the more intimate bay views.
- The Southerly wind on this site is a dominant force, as the clients had experienced over the years. Even on clear days it is strong, quite possibly also cold enough to prevent any outdoor activity or even the opening of any windows.
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