A Modern Fort – Parihoa by Patterson Associates

Arranged as a series of separate spaces, they are linked through this circulation courtyard and other secret doors. Ideals of discovery and concealment and reveal are embedded throughout. Linking back to the historical reference of a similar type of architecture, there is a deliberate connection to a transcendence of time. The entry lobby is also a place of protection, as the first point of call on approach, with pivoting sections of the perimeter wall able to be opened as needed.

Predominantly clad with in dark treated timber elements, the patina over time of the material will heighten the form’s connection to its site. Internally, the continued use of the dark timber further emphasises its presence. Bold forms and purposely positioned openings throughout the farmhouse allow for a connection to the ocean and unique site, where the long views stretch out to the dominating horizon. Patterson Associates has cleverly brought together aspects of the traditional with Parihoa, referencing the legacy of a significant architectural typology through a modern lens, responding to site lightly and sustainably within its unyielding context.