Nightlight
Nightlight is nestled in the kānuka belt that wraps around the Akaroa township in Banks Peninsula. Practically this building provides services and tool storage for a long term vision to regenerate the land and build a forever home. By day, the timber screen filters light and views to provide a constant connection to the surrounding bush when inside. By night, it shines bright thanks to its polycarbonate shell.
Q Nightlight is a shed at heart, but what is it that makes it so special?
A (Mitchell) Rather than locating this building out of sight like a typical shed or using it only for its services, Nightlight was reimagined as a light sculpture that will proudly be seen from the future outdoor living space. The filtered light seen glowing between the slats at night is a contrasting aesthetic to the minimalist facade seen throughout the day. The light it provides is a welcome addition to an otherwise dark site.
Nighlight is also negative embodied carbon which is a focus for us in all projects. This was achieved through careful material selection and the use of some recycled materials.
Q Given its prominent location on site, what ensures Nightlight slots into its surroundings?
A (Amy) Its form fits seamlessly into the treeline while the locally sourced macrocarpa for the decking and thermally modified pine for the slats have been left to silver off to mimic the kānuka trunks. The use of mist green further connects it to the surrounding bush.
Q This is a small project, but often that can come with just as many challenges - what were the biggest ones?
A (Mitchell) All external battens and slats had to be carefully lined up with the internal structure and used sparingly to allow a uniform pattern of glow at night. This critical geometry and alignment was a constant challenge throughout the build.
Another was its location. All materials had to be hauled up the steep site which is 4WD only. The use of polycarbonate for its shell not only allows Nightlight to shine bright, but it could be easily transported to site and worked with hand tools. The aggregate used for the concrete pile footings and columns was wheelbarrowed up from the bottom of the site and hand mixed in location.
Q What does the future look like for Nightlight?
A (Amy) The form and level of detail seen in Nightlight sets a high bar for future projects on site. It will inform the design language - in particular the use of expressed and exposed material junctions and fittings - and material selection. Watch this space!
