Hill to Horizon

On an idyllic bay 20 km north of Whitianga in the scenic Coromandel Peninsula lies Otama Beach, a little-known enclave of coastal natural beauty that looks out to the Mercury Islands. And nestled in the hills that edge away from the beach is the Hill to Horizon House — a coastal home with its face to the sun, and with a profile that simultaneously provides shelter and directs the onlooker’s gaze. Designed by Ben Lloyd and Mike Hartley of Lloyd Hartley Architects in collaboration with Studio Brick for Marty Brick and his partner Nancy van der Laan, the home turned heads as soon as it completed construction — including those at Home Magazine, who declared it the Rural Home of the Year 2021. Designed with an emphasis on both privacy and openness, sprawling windows face the Pacific Ocean and out to the horizon, and this openness is acutely felt in Its facade — with an especially striking upper-storey cladding of vertical cedar. This stunning cladding forms the primary impression when approaching, and helps the building achieve a harmonious marriage between the beach vibe and the luxury of the home. This was achieved in part through the treatment of the wood with Dryden WoodOil with the Colourtone Slate added — which allowed the home to blend into the coastal environment with an even natural silvered timber appearance. The proximity to the ocean also called for extra protection on the home’s cladding, all while maintaining the natural beauty of the timber, and extending the lifespan of the cedar. Coastal environments are harsh — but Dryden WoodOil’s migrating ability and water-repelling properties help prevent the absorption of water deep into timbers, reducing excessive warping, cupping, and splitting of timber. Ben Lloyd, the architect of the Hill to Horizon project, says these were the factors that sealed the deal when they chose Dryden’s product. “We're proponents of Dryden WoodOil - Slate as an exterior stain colour for cedar, as it provides a protective finish in a soft natural tone, which is especially important when trying to design buildings to be sympathetic or complementary to the surrounding landscape,” says Ben. “This product enhances the innate variance in the cedar boards and provides a finish that augments the natural ageing/silvering of the timber.” It is always recommended to have an annual inspection to ensure the timber is protected and looks fresh. It is common for elevations to experience colour fade after a period of time or feel chalky to the touch; in this case, one coat of Dryden WoodOil with a Dryden Colourtone added is all that is needed. However, for aged or damaged timber, two coats of Dryden WoodOil are required after a strong wash, with at least 3-6 months between the first and second coat to allow the first coat to penetrate further. Photography by David Straight