The Beach Pavilions perch serenely on Oneroa Beach. Designed by Young+Richards as a weekender for a busy couple and their grown children, it provides respite from city living by forming an unobtrusive backdrop to their activities; as a viewing deck for the cricket pitch on the lawn, to allow a peek at the early morning conditions before an ocean swim, or to be a flexible space for family life.

Inspired by the remarkable location and its boatshed vernacular, the two timber-clad pavilions are connected by spacious living decks, allowing both introspection and togetherness as guests or family can open up the small pavilion to the larger, or choose to remain self-contained. A slatted Australian Western Red Cedar façade provides privacy and filters light and breeze, allowing subtle air movement and a connection with the elements as the senses are imbued with the salt air. Waterborne-stained, the rusticated weatherboard profile is promoted by the suppliers as their most sustainable cladding option, and allows the natural qualities of the wood to be appreciated.

Inside, the White Ash flooring of the larger pavilions compliments the polished concrete slab of the smaller, tying in with the warmer tones of the kitchen cabinetry; whilst outside the Belian decking is left unfinished to gracefully silver off. These elements of the design are all sensitively oriented to optimise the benefit of solar gains and passive ventilation, and low VOC paints, rainwater harvesting, and solar water heating all feature as part of a commitment to sustainability.

Design Team: Harriet Pilkington, Elvon Young, Winnie Chou

Photography
Simon Devitt