The work of Bossley Architects is often associated with the concept of encampment — an enduring theme that has been a constant in the founder’s 40-plus years of practice. “The enthusiasm for this idea springs from the nostalgic notion of camping as something inherent in the New Zealand cultural psyche,” explains Bossley, “a notion which probably has as much veracity as that other great myth that places the archetypal Kiwi bach at the centre of our shared childhoods.”

In architectural terms, Bossley points out, there is a much longer history at play than that of childhood notions of camping holidays.“The term refers to everything from the casual gathering of a few tents to the rigidly organised military structures which the Romans perfected.”

Over numerous projects, the practice has incorporated the qualities and contours of the existing landscape to become active contributors to the elements of enclosure so that the buildings and the landform are acting as one.

Here, on Waiheke, the brief for Huruhi required that the building take best advantage of views and shelter from the southerlies while making the most of the sloping site for long-term landscaping opportunities. The two initial buildings offer two bedrooms in the house and more relaxed accommodation above a boatshed while space for a third dwelling — a guesthouse — is envisaged to the north, which will complete the idea of encampment on the site.

The approach is from above and so living roofs soften this elevation and the buildings beneath. The gently kinked form of the main house follows the contours of the site from west to east and the boatshed pavilion sits lower on the site and closer to the sea. Winding pathways meander between the buildings.

“The underside of the green roof is an extruded scalloped form,” explains architect Finn Scott, “which extends through the building from outside to in. The vault shelters the living, dining and sleeping spaces while the up-kick extends one’s eye up to the slopes behind through high-level bands of window.”

The clients requested a low-maintenance dwelling so both the house and boatshed are clad in pre-painted aluminium weatherboards for longevity and resilience, as well as recyclability. This solid colour contrasts with timber-batten soffits, which express the carved-out shape of the underside of roof and ceilings.

“The house’s unique ceiling creates a sheltering note for the living, dining and sleeping spaces,” says Bossley. “It also introduces south light into the spaces for an even distribution of light and offers cross ventilation.”

Hand-finished wall linings reflect the light and soften the surfaces and custom-designed furniture and fittings, incorporating lighting, feature throughout the house. “Timber floors and joinery elements have been paired with hand-rendered finishes to provide warmth to the interior spaces,” adds Scott.

The sedum green roof is supported by timber-framed walls with steel and the polished-concrete terraces, featuring local aggregates, are carved into the hill and retained by Waiheke stone walls.

As Bossley looks back on many of his practice’s encampments, he recalls giving a talk at his granddaughter’s primary school a number of years ago. “I was showing them a model of my own place on a beach south of Auckland and describing the little buildings as relating to camping, with the need to pass between them in the rain, getting wet or experiencing the stars at night. One kid enthusiastically raised his hand and pointed out it was more like glamping, wasn’t it? Indeed, it is.”