The 59 new homes in Stage 5 of Arvida Bethlehem Shores Retirement Village aren’t the buildings you might expect. Instead of conservative and traditional, they are modern and architectural – perfect spaces for families to gather in the coastal community.

Responsible for Stage 5 of the project, Nikki McNeil from Drawing Works was asked by the client to bring the ‘wow’ factor and a modern aesthetic.

Positioned to catch the sun and experience stunning views as the sun rises and sets, each house in the village offers its residents stylish, independent living with walkways, wetlands, a café, swimming pool and arguably one of the best clubhouses in the country.

Much of the exterior materiality was determined by the LRV (light reflectance value), as part of the resource consent, meaning dark colours were required. 

Nikki incorporated some similar products from the previous stages, paired with more modern finishes to create a luxurious, textural feel – including the real schist stone chimneys and the elegant kiln-fired Italian clay bricks alongside the clean, modern lines of the Western Red cedar vertical weatherboards, to create a natural finish that fits in with the surroundings.

Attention to detail is evident throughout the homes with the pavilion style ceilings in the kitchen/dining/lounge area to maximise the light. Patio overhangs on the east side of the homes feature contrasting natural timber, and cedar battens have been used for both visual appeal and function – perfectly spaced, the end result speaks for itself.

“The prevailing winds in Tauranga are westerly, so the patio gives a sheltered area from the wind or sun,” says Nikki, with the high raking ceilings creating the feeling of an elevated space on the inside and outside – “It’s quite dramatic.”

There are 19 different designs within the 59 homes in Stage 5 and they range from 170sqm to 260sqm, which consist of two to three large bedrooms, a designer bathroom and ensuite with walk-in-wardrobe, hobby cupboard or media room, expansive kitchens/dining and living areas with a gas fire for night-time ambience.

“Having a warm dry home for the residents was really important for the client,” says Nikki. All the homes have a Daikan ducted heat pump to provide air-conditioned comfort to every habitable room in the home.

“A lot of people living in these homes have furniture from throughout their lives, so the interior has to be adaptable and changeable for what they have. We have tried to cater for this diverse need, so it just means that it’s really easy for them to move in and enjoy their homes,” says Nikki.

Working across such a wide project that serves many families, Nikki’s favourite part was seeing it all come together. 

“As a designer, you spend months and months on a screen, and when you go to client meetings your heart is on the line. You take feedback and incorporate it and keep processing that design into something that is a win-win for everybody.

“Standing there, after two years of looking at something on a screen and tweaking it and dreaming about it, seeing how all that hard work has paid off is a proud moment.”

Words: Cassie Birrer

Photography by Elko Media