Fragmented lines and asymmetric forms

Designed by Michael Cooper Architects

From the architect:

Our owners' brief asked for an escape from city life – they wanted a home that allows family and friends to retreat to individual spaces as well as to gather to celebrate the idea of the Kiwi bach. 

The home is composed with the guest bedrooms and lounge inhabiting the ground floor, which is nestled safely behind the beachfront sand dune to one side and the plunge pool off the internal boardwalk to the other. 

The master suite then occupies the second floor, enabling the first floor to become the space where the family and friends can reunite and spend quality time together. 

Every attempt was made to restrain the scale of the spaces to retain a bach-like feel, while having a home that is spread over three levels.

The design was derived from the natural characteristics of the surrounding topography along with the narrow nature of the beachfront property which formed an architectural typology of fragmented lines and asymmetric forms. 

Through this form, the design offers pockets of framed views to the coastline from multiple spaces while also allowing natural light to easily penetrate the building's skin, filling the interior spaces of the building. 

The design sought to blur the thresholds between indoor and outdoor spaces by bringing both the building's angular geometry and cedar materiality through to the inside. 

It wasn’t until this language was achieved through both form and materiality that glazing and doors were integrated. 

Given the narrow site and close proximity of neighbours, cedar screens were introduced to the glazing along the north-western face – providing privacy and a dappled light feature.

To further enhance the relationship between the architecture and its natural environment, a largely natural material pallet was selected to complement the coastal environment. 

The cedar-clad form nestles into the sand dunes in both colour and texture while concrete pavers, polished concrete floors, and hardwood decking bring natural undertones into the house. 

Tying this together, the glazing elements frame both the natural and built outdoor spaces while also allowing the sun to enter the building, warming the concrete elements and radiating the warmth of the internal cedar walls and ceiling linings.

The kitchen has been situated in the centre of the first floor to form the heart of the home with the kitchen island echoing the angled nature of the exterior form.  

The first-floor level has been positioned in line with the top of the sand dunes, allowing for uninterrupted views of the ocean and down the coast to Mt. Maunganui.

Designed by: Michael Cooper Architects

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Sam Odey