Taking its name from the Māori word for rest, this meditation cabin produces ideal spaces for contemplation, reflection, and recuperation through the choreography of view, air, and light. A tilted conical form allows the project to construct precise relationships with the encircling trees, gently sloping earth, and sky, while simultaneously providing a robust geometric and structural logic suitable for framing with local timber. A series of three cuts each acknowledge a specific aspect of the site. A vertical cut facing the northern approach to the cabin creates an entry threshold and porch. The exposed north-facing façade is protected with an operable bris-soleil surface which prevents unwanted direct summer sun, while permitting solar gains from low winter sun as well as ventilation year-round. This surface expands toward the interior to become workbenches for extracting flower essences. A second horizontal cut is calibrated to the height of a seated person as well as the grade of the site, framing a unique view of the sloping ridge and strengthening viewers’ connection to the earth and surrounding forest. A final cut at the top of the structure is tuned to produce a direct relationship with the sky and to illuminate the occupants below in diffuse light. The direct sunlight washing the southern wall allows this vertical surface to perform as an altar for flower essences, with the placement of flowers depending on the time of day and year. A set of smaller incisions perforate the charred shingle cladding, which capture framed vignettes of the nearby trees. The otherwise blackened outer surface provides natural resistance to the elements using locally sourced materials and recalls the sublime energy embedded in the landscape. The resultant space is both simple and highly attuned to the surrounding environment, reframing the site for those who use it and allowing new qualities of light, earth, and time to be discovered.
