Designed for a couple with adult children who had recently moved north from Wellington. The brief called for a collection of ‘sheds’, one for living, one for sleeping and one for guests. It was very important to the owners that the house ‘sit well to the land’ and make the most of the spectacular coastal and rural views offered by the site. They wanted the house to be informal and to be able to live in a relaxed way, with the simplicity of a bach.

The south facing site was heavily affected by an adjacent ridgeline to the north. In addition, it had a building height restriction plane imposed over it. This necessitated that the house be positioned in a ‘sweet spot’ both horizontally and vertically on the site, which allowed the full potential of the stunning coastal views over Bream Bay, the Hen and Chicken/Marotere Islands and Waipu Cove to be realised. It also facilitated all day winter sun into the house without compromising privacy from neighbours to the east. The floor level and roof line is set so that the house fits under the height restriction plane with millimetres to spare.

Conceived as a ‘long house’ straddling the natural contour of the site on an east/west axis. The living and sleeping wings are linked under a covered breezeway. Steps and decks running up the natural contour bisect the house on a north/south axis to form entry and access to the north lawn. This arrangement allows unimpeded sea views from the living wing and east facing covered deck with snippet rural views to the south. This is reversed in the sleeping wing with extensive rural views and snippet sea views to the east. The guest wing is placed under the sleeping wing with immediate connection to the site via a private courtyard on the west. Covered car and boat parks are created under the living wing and breezeway.

Local rural vernacular architecture is referenced with the selection of prefinished horizontal profiled metal cladding especially on the south and west facing elevations where it offers a low maintenance, naturally rain-washed solution. Vertical Cedar cladding with a natural oil stain finish is used in areas around the north and east facing decks, where its tactile qualities can be enjoyed, it is protected by eaves and can be easily maintained if required.

Environmental credentials of this house include; double glazing, high levels of thermal insulation (140mm walls), passive solar energy use, natural ventilation strategies (cross and stack ventilation), material/cladding selection (Environmental Choice), onsite wastewater treatment, potable water collection and reticulation and prewire for PV solar installation.

• Location: Waipu, Whangarei District
• Type: New Build
• Floor Area: 164m2 (115m2 upper, 49m2 lower)
• Contractor: Clews Construction Ltd
• Completed: 2017
• Photography: Doug Pearson Photography