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Read ArchiPro's article about Memory Rock here

This unique beach house was thoughtfully inspired by Medlands Beach where it is situated on Aotea (Great Barrier Island).

The long curving shoreline is punctuated by a large, weathered rock to its centre. This informed the architectural composition with a low, long, horizontal form complemented by a taller, denser, two-level element to the centre. It is a confident design with a direct relationship to site and context.

This metaphorical design response flowed through to the materials, with textured, “sandy” plaster and light-coloured timber for the interior walls, textured bronze fixtures (cast in sand) and vertical cedar cladding, mimicking the bullrush reeds in the adjacent wetland.

The arrangement of spaces captures surrounding views; from the wetland and mountainous hills to the north-west, the stand of large Pohutukawa to the south-east and the framed view to the ocean from the second level master bedroom.

Timber floors, ceilings and decks further provide a warm, relaxed feel to the interior and exterior spaces that can be enjoyed all year round.

Deep eaves shelter the decks from sun and rain while large expanses of sliding glazing form wide openings that dissolve the line between interior and exterior.

The immediate planting and landscaping anchor the architectural volumes to the site. Like the tide and surf eddy around the rock on the beach so too does the movement of the landscape planting eddy around the building and decks.

This unique home effortlessly draws in the surrounding landscape and nature without compromising on its livability.

Date: 2021

Location: Aotea-Great Barrier Island

Credits

Construction—John Scott (Great Barrier Building Company)

Landscape Architecture—Andy Hamilton Studio

Photography—David Straight & Carol Comer

About the
Professional

JCA STUDIO is a design focused, award winning, architectural practice based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Established by Jeremy Chapman in 2017, the studio believes in an authentic and considered design process. By seeking a balance between functional knowledge and informed architectural thinking, exceptional design solutions reveal themselves.

Jeremy has always been a maker with time spent as a furniture designer, on-site builder and now as an architectural designer. This diverse background has informed a passionate, considered approach to every project, with results that speak for themselves.

JCA STUDIO enjoys responding to a range of briefs, and on a range of sites. From residential to commercial, educational, new builds, renovations, additions, heritage projects and bespoke interiors.

The team love meeting new clients and hearing the visions they want to see brought to life. We believe in undertaking a robust and iterative design process to provide authentic responses to briefs – a process where our clients can collaborate and feel at ease. 

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.