Built on a semi-public site next to the Durie Hill Elevator tower, The Mantles nestles and cloaks the brow of the hill, and is viewed from six separate elevations including the tower itself and the walkway below. The house is of the hill, not on the hill. The living room gives views of Maunga Ruapehu, Maunga Taranaki, the city below, the awa winding by, the Dublin Street bridge and the sculpted hills beyond. Mist often hangs in the valley and the view is ever-changing, with the activity on the river.

Attention has been paid to privacy for the client, while recognizing the paradox of the living deck being both partly visible from the tower and the punctuation of the privacy gradient. There is a private deck from the library.

There are a number of levels in the house. There is a minor cascade of sorts. The spaces are enriched by the awareness of these level changes. The client wanted a feeling of travel. The central circulation was studied for the right going of flights, and the spacing of flights. The shape of the site allows the living deck to have a prow-like quality, achieving both prospect and refuge. From the town centre, the house can be seen to lightly cloak the hilltop.

The site presented a number of challenges including a no build zone and a significant height recession plane challenge against the private road boundary. We are thankful for the support of the neighbours, the WDC planning team, and the elevator operator.

The builder for this project was Hardy Construction and the photographs were taken by Simon Devitt.