Bach sensibility with eHaus standards

Designed by First Light Studio

From the architect:

 Brief & design response

This home is a considered response to the holiday bach typology, designed as an escape for a young family from New Plymouth. 

The home captures the essence of a traditional New Zealand bach – simple, functional, and warm – while incorporating the high-performance design of an eHaus (Passivehaus) to ensure low-energy use, year-round comfort, and durability in the rigorous climate of the central North Island.

Anchored on the crest of Kinloch’s Harrier Lane, the home takes advantage of expansive views toward Lake Taupō while maintaining privacy from surrounding properties. 

The design employs a modest footprint (178m²), balancing site covenants, efficiency, and architectural ambition. 

A restrained material palette – painted corrugated steel and Yellow Cedar – acknowledges the durability considerations required for a bach while softening the home’s integration into its natural surroundings.

At the heart of the home is an elongated entry sequence, known as ‘the Jetty’, which extends from the front door, guiding occupants toward the lake-facing living space. 

This architectural promenade references the experience of walking along a lakeside jetty, reinforcing the home’s connection to place. 

The open-plan living, kitchen, and dining areas seamlessly connect to outdoor spaces, providing options for outdoor living depending on whether the predominant westerly winds are blowing, enabling year-round use.

Supporting the rhythms of family life, the home includes three bedrooms, with a built-in bunk room for children, two tiled wet-room bathrooms, and a flexible work-from-home space. 

The garage accommodates recreational gear and an EV charger, reinforcing the home’s sustainable ethos. 

Privacy, efficiency, and a deep connection to the lake define this home, ensuring it remains a retreat that is both high-performing and enduringly beautiful.

Site and context

Site description:

The prominent site offers uninterrupted sunlight and panoramic views of Lake Taupō and Kinloch Golf Course. 

The elevated site presents dual challenges: balancing optimal solar gain from the north while maximising views stretching from south to northeast. 

Predominant winds from the west necessitate strategic outdoor living design, ensuring sheltered yet functional spaces. 

The site is fully serviced, with vehicular access.

Planning constraints

The project was designed within strict covenants, requiring an architecturally integrated garage and a minimum build size of 150m². 

A height restriction of 5.5m limited vertical expansion, encouraging a considered, single-level design. 

Natural, low-reflectivity materials were mandated, further informing the home’s restrained yet expressive material selection.

Material selection, construction & maintenance considerations

The material palette juxtaposes painted corrugated Colorsteel cladding with a band of Yellow Cedar, delineated by a continuous datum that unifies the two split levels. 

The Colorsteel provides a durable, low-maintenance exterior suited to the region’s climatic extremes, while the Yellow Cedar, chosen for its affordability (and stable supply post-COVID), delivers a warm, tactile contrast where the cladding is within reach.

The home is built to eHaus Euro standards, ensuring airtightness, high-performance insulation, and triple-glazed windows. 

This results in a low-maintenance, high-efficiency home that significantly reduces heating and cooling demands, aligning with the principles of Passive House design but without certification.

Story by: Trendsideas