Nestled on a small site only 200 metres from the beach, this bold family home in Mount Maunganui takes its cues from its coastal environment. The black vertical steel cladding used on the majority of the exterior reflects the nearby port with clean, sharp lines that reference a shipping container box.

Designer Jason Macdonald, director of local firm JMAC Architecture, has worked closely with the clients – a young family with two children under 5 – to overcome the site constraints, which included potential flood hazard zones and overshadowing against the boundaries. These challenges have resulted in some creative solutions, with four transitioning floor levels and a chiselled, folding form to the rear of the building.

The site has minimal landscaping, with Macdonald laughing, “I don’t think there’s even a blade of glass on the entire property!” Instead, the clients have opted for extensive timber decking that flows out on the same level of the ground floor, with a plunge pool placed between the boundary and building itself. Connectivity between indoor and out is emphasised via the direct view of the pool from the living space, particularly stunning when the inviting pool illuminates at night.

Low maintenance materials mean that this home is easy to care for, with the utilitarian black steel contrasting nicely against the warm hues of the cedar, which has been placed mostly on the ground level for ease of access. The home faces north and the lack of large eaves allows plenty of opportunity for sunlight to penetrate deep into every room of the house. The bedrooms and upper bathroom are also flooded with light, thanks to the raking ceilings and multiple elongated roof windows.

While the home is smallish, the ground floor living volumes are exaggerated by the 3m high ceilings and 2.4m high aluminium joinery, which impart a sense of human scale and ensure that the house feels more spacious. The split-level changes from garage space to living at the ground floor, and from the master bedroom to the children’s bedrooms in the upper levels, create an unusual interior filled with many different angles and layers.

Macdonald says, “The homeowners formulated the interior colour scheme; our input was to encourage a light, airy feel to the home that relates directly to the beach lifestyle”. This is achieved by the natural, earthy palette and crisp white painted GIB walls.

The Mastercraft Kitchen Tauranga-designed kitchen cosies into the corner of the space, with simple cabinetry that boasts clean, negative details. A large stone top island functions both as a preparation area and as a hub for the family to gather or entertain.

Vertical cedar has been used to clad the staircase, which pulls the exterior cladding into the living space. A bespoke balustrade of black steel fins contrasts against the warm cedar and forms a type of see-through wall that ascends the staircase and creates flow and spaciousness throughout the interior.

For this project, Macdonald and the clients – one of who is an engineer – worked closely together to resolve the various site challenges and formulate the unique layout of the house. The collaboration has resulted in a striking family home with strong, clean lines that makes the most of its sunny, coastal locale.

Written by ArchiPro editorial desk.