Reminiscent of Philip Johnson’s Glass House and Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, Jason Street Glass House designed by Nathan Taylor of Taylored Spaces took out the 2020 ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Award for the Residential New Home up to 150m2 category.
Straddled across two adjoining sites with a bisection of Dunedin’s Ross Creek running between them, navigating the challenging site was no easy feat. With minimal excavation to the site, Jason Street Glass House, a 154sqm glass wrapped structure, floats above the canopy of wild, native foliage, its mix of concrete slab and extensive glazing framed by sleek steel lines to form the bridge like structure, perfectly juxtaposed against the untamed landscape which lies beneath.
While the sleek structural steel is mirrored throughout the interior, a natural rustic colour palette softens the space with native timbers and the abundance of light which flows in. Recycled rimu cabinetry rescued from the University of Otago science lab adds a lived in warmth to the kitchen, while unbacked timber shelving provides visual separation between dining and living areas without closing the space in.
Although attempts at paying homage to some of modern days most celebrated architects can fall short and inevitably invite criticism, Nathan Taylor’s Jason Street Glass House exceeds expectations and delivers a truly special outcome.
Photography by Graham Warman.