Award-Winning RHR House: Coastal Resilience Meets Architectural Innovation
Award-Winning RHR House: Coastal Resilience Meets Architectural Innovation
In a challenging coastal environment like Christchurch’s Southshore spit, traditional building materials take on a new life through creative design. The RHR House, designed by architect Dean Cowell from Three Sixty Architecture as a personal family home, exemplifies this approach. Elevated to withstand flooding and engineered to resist liquefaction, the house not only meets the demands of its environment but transforms these limitations into an aesthetic statement. Recently, it was recognised with a Bronze Award in the Residential category at the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards and won the prestigious Climate Response award at the HERE Awards 2024. At the heart of this transformation are Viblock’s concrete masonry blocks, used in imaginative ways to enhance both form and function.
Designed by Dean Cowell at Three Sixty Architecture | Featured Products: 20.02 blocks and masonry blocks
Innovative Use of Masonry Blocks
Far from being ordinary, the concrete blocks at the base of the RHR House are more than a structural necessity—they serve as a distinctive design feature. Using 2002 Viblock blocks, arranged in open patterns along the side of the house, these blocks create a porous, breathable screen that provides an intriguing visual contrast. While concrete is typically associated with solid, impermeable structures, the unique block arrangement in the RHR House allows light and air to filter through the ground floor, creating a sense of openness while remaining resilient against the elements. Standard grey masonry was also incorporated, adding subtle textural variety to the building’s base.
Designed by Dean Cowell at Three Sixty Architecture | Featured Products: 20.02 blocks used as breeze screen and masonry blocks
A Design Rooted in Place
Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Ōtākaro Avon River Estuary, the RHR House sits in a landscape shaped by coastal exposure and the seismic legacy of the Christchurch earthquakes. This setting demanded more than just durable materials—it called for an architectural response that acknowledges the site’s raw, rugged character while embracing its vulnerabilities. The design is reminiscent of a moored vessel, grounded yet adaptive, echoing the late Peter Beaven’s iconic Lyttleton Tunnel building, often dubbed Canterbury’s fifth ship.
Designing for Elevated Living
To counter the risk of inundation, the house is elevated above the floodplain, utilising stacked floor plates to maximise both stability and views. The ground level, where Viblock’s concrete masonry blocks shine, is dedicated to storage, while the main living areas are lifted to the second level, embracing panoramic views of the estuary. The third level is a more intimate space, with bedrooms and a reading nook arranged to frame carefully curated views, offering a sense of shelter with reduced glazing and lower ceilings.
Designed by Dean Cowell at Three Sixty Architecture | Featured Products: 20.02 blocks used as breeze screen and masonry blocks
The Concrete Breeze Block Screen
One of the most striking architectural features of the RHR House is the Concrete Breeze Block Screen at the back of the house. This carefully constructed screen serves as both a privacy barrier and an artful architectural statement, allowing natural light and coastal breezes to flow through while creating an ever-changing play of shadows. The design softens the solidity of concrete, adding visual interest and connecting the structure to its surroundings in a dynamic, purposeful way.
Thoughtful, Sustainable Choices
Sustainability is woven into the very fabric of the RHR House. Beyond its energy-efficient design, the project incorporates reused and recycled materials—from reclaimed timber and plywood offcuts to recycled Rimu accents—infusing the house with character and reducing its environmental footprint. The decision to use Viblock’s masonry blocks aligns with this sustainable ethos, as concrete’s durability and thermal mass contribute to a home built for longevity.
Other Noteworthy Projects Featuring Viblock Masonry
Beyond the RHR House, Viblock’s concrete masonry plays a central role in other exemplary architectural projects, highlighting the material’s adaptability and aesthetic potential.
Cass Bay Home by Bull O’Sullivan Architecture
The Cass Bay home, designed by Bull O’Sullivan Architecture, is a stunning example of how Viblock masonry can elevate a residence into visually captivating architecture. This project captures how creativity and imagination can transform the humble concrete block into an architectural statement, balancing functionality with beauty.
Project Cass Bay Home | Architect: Bull O’Sullivan Architecture | Featured Products: Structural Grey Masonry
Thermal Mass at Work
In another project, Viblock’s masonry blocks have been utilised in a more traditional way, maximising the benefits of thermal mass. This residence demonstrates how concrete’s inherent thermal properties can create a comfortable, energy-efficient home environment, maintaining stable indoor temperatures year-round.
These projects, each uniquely executed, demonstrate the range and adaptability of Viblock’s masonry solutions in contemporary architecture, bringing both robustness and artistry to New Zealand’s built environment.
Project Te Mata House | Architect: R· B· Studio | Featured Products: Honed Charcaol Structural Masonry| Photography Simon Devitt
Project Te Mata House | Architect: R· B· Studio | Featured Products: Honed Charcaol Structural Masonry| Photography Hazel Redmond
At Viblock, we are committed to supporting sustainable architectural practices with our range of well-designed bricks, blocks, pavers, and more.
We know that every architectural project is unique, and we’d be thrilled to discuss your design plans with you to understand what kind of masonry solutions you’re looking for. Let’s explore our range of products together to determine the bricks that would best suit your particular needs.
Reach us by calling 0800 842 562 or by going through our contact form.
Viblock: Your source for incredible, strong, and beautiful masonry in New Zealand.