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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

Hill to Horizon House | Lloyd Hartley Architects & Studio Brick Architects | ArchiPro

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.