Coast Retreat, Warrington, Coastal Otago

By Dryden

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Set high on an exposed coastal headland, overlooking Warrington Beach and the tidal inlet of Blueskin Bay, sits this Coastal Retreat. With a robust architectural form that both shelters its occupants from the wind and reflects the rural surroundings, the design brief for this home was to integrate a cohesive family home on a remote coastal site. 

Crafted entirely of wood to reflect the essence of the vernacular barn, the architectural design is shaped in a collection of simple timber wedge like forms that are orientated to capture the separate views of the coastline and to create shelter, whilst also separating the living areas and bedroom wings. 

But its status as being simultaneously a coastal and a wooden building necessitated a means of protecting the wood, both inside and out. Dryden WoodOil was chosen for this task; the water-repelling properties of its migrating oil help prevent the absorption of water into the timber, reducing excessive warping, cupping, and splitting of the wood, thus extending its lifespan. 

Meanwhile, the landscape design is strongly connected with its natural environment. A continuation of native coastal planting of tussocks, ngaios and flaxes extenuate from the dunes of the beach below to reach the house above, which add to the intensity of the rugged coastal environment. 

The home’s exterior cladding sought to emulate this. Given the Coastal Retreat’s heavy utilisation and reliance on timber as its primary material, it was important that the natural beauty of the timber was retained. Maintaining a consistent and eye-catching lustre throughout the home was critical — so Dryden WoodOil was paired with the Dryden Colourtone Elm to help blend into the stunning surroundings. 

In addition to the aesthetics and functionality of the product, Dryden WoodOil is also extremely convenient — it can be precoated before installation to protect all sides of the timber and is easily applied with a speedbrush

Maintenance on exteriors is also a simple process: in most cases, one coat of Dryden WoodOil is all it takes. 

The decking also needs an extra layer of protection, as it is exposed to both footfall and often harsh weather conditions. To combat this, Dryden Decking & Hardwood was used — specifically designed for hard-wearing woods, and to combat the many aspects — both meteorological and human — that can affect decking. 

On the home’s interior, where there is less UV penetration, Dryden WoodMaster Dune was utilised as a finish, enhancing the natural colours of the timber.  

Specially designed in New Zealand for our harsh environments, including our unrelenting coastlines, Dryden products protect most timber species, used in applications from cladding to interiors to decking, from the perils of dampness and the elements. 

This is especially true for this Coastal Retreat that overlooks Warrington Beach. With such a demanding and volatile environment — with seaspray, precipitation and general dampness a near-constant factor — Dryden’s products helped ensure almost every part of the house that featured timber was protected.

Products used in
Coast Retreat, Warrington, Coastal Otago

Professionals used in
Coast Retreat, Warrington, Coastal Otago

About the
Professional

At Dryden, we are all about protecting and enhancing the natural beauty of the timber – grain, texture and colour.

In 1999, Dryden was established to service the New Zealand housing and construction industry, providing a more fitting protection  solution for timber, through our flagship product Dryden WoodOil.

Since the beginning, Dryden has been dedicated to developing  new products for the marketplace. Today, Dryden WoodOil remains a trusted and proven product. The range also encompasses comprehensive specialist cleaning and coating products for a variety of interior and exterior applications. 

Dryden products are the choice of discerning architects and trade professionals who share our ideals of protecting and enhancing  the natural beauty of timber; intensifying and revealing what nature has already given us. It's all part of our mission to help your vision become a reality. From creating the house of your dreams to making the most of your current property, we bring out the best in your timber.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.