Houzz Tour: Big Sky Views on New Zealand’s West Coast
A windswept home is designed to provide a laid-back lifestyle for a young family
It gets windy on this ridge between the black-sand sweep of Piha Beach and its smaller neighbor, Karekare, a moody stretch of New Zealand coastline made famous in the movie The Piano. Finding an affordable site with such spectacular views was a dream come true for the new owner, a builder and surfer who wanted to leave behind the bustling city life for a more laid-back lifestyle. He asked architect Tim Dorrington for a design that would accommodate his young family and take the knocks of two rapidly growing boys.
The owner wanted an unpretentious house that celebrated the casual, coastal feel of this remote suburb. The result: two cube-like volumes that frame views of the sea and sky. The relaxed aesthetic belies the fine craftsmanship of the build, which features absolute precision at every point.
The owner wanted an unpretentious house that celebrated the casual, coastal feel of this remote suburb. The result: two cube-like volumes that frame views of the sea and sky. The relaxed aesthetic belies the fine craftsmanship of the build, which features absolute precision at every point.
The home is made up of not-so-humble wood boxes and was built to superb standards. Here, clean miters edge the siding and the fire-engine-red doorway is a bright indication that this is the main entry of the house.
The home has two bedrooms, with an attached bunk room, and two bathrooms — one upstairs and one combined with the laundry room downstairs.
The home has two bedrooms, with an attached bunk room, and two bathrooms — one upstairs and one combined with the laundry room downstairs.
Ceiling panels of polished strand board (similar to particle board) are joined in jigsaw-like fashion, and louvered windows help keep the home cool in summer. The concrete floors were power-floated and then polished with as little grind as possible.
“The owners were clear that they were OK with the faults of concrete as a natural product. They wanted a floor that was similar to that in a supermarket — polished and well-used — but did not want to see ground aggregate,” Dorrington says.
The bench seat in the dining area doubles as built-in storage.
“The owners were clear that they were OK with the faults of concrete as a natural product. They wanted a floor that was similar to that in a supermarket — polished and well-used — but did not want to see ground aggregate,” Dorrington says.
The bench seat in the dining area doubles as built-in storage.
In the kitchen, the countertop is handcrafted from oak beams the builder had collected over the years. It cantilevers above a concrete base and waterfalls gracefully down one side. “The family enjoys having breakfast here in the morning, with the view that looks southwest,” Dorrington says.
The print above the counter was made by the owner. The black cabinets are made of a high-pressure laminate — Futura from Plytech — which is a plywood made from European birch. Handles are a simple D-style in chrome, which suits the industrial look of the space.
The print above the counter was made by the owner. The black cabinets are made of a high-pressure laminate — Futura from Plytech — which is a plywood made from European birch. Handles are a simple D-style in chrome, which suits the industrial look of the space.
The lower level of the home includes the kitchen, living and dining zone, which steps down to a conversation pit. To balance the sense of openness in the rest of the house, there’s a sense of intimacy to this snug space, whose wood-burning stove offers protection against the elements.
A wall of family photographs adds to the hangout’s homey feel. The vintage furniture that supplements the built-in seating helped keep the budget under control. The artwork to the left of the stove was bought in Mexico and is titled Un Profundo Silencio (A Profound Silence).
A wall of family photographs adds to the hangout’s homey feel. The vintage furniture that supplements the built-in seating helped keep the budget under control. The artwork to the left of the stove was bought in Mexico and is titled Un Profundo Silencio (A Profound Silence).
The concrete floors on the lower level are pretty much kid-proof.
The stairs lead up to the bedroom and bathroom zone. Wood dowels create a decorative screen for the staircase, whose treads are in strand board. The walls are lined in Lawson cypress for a rustic feel.
The pendant light in the stairwell has an interesting history: It was once a wicker laundry basket. The owners love wicker, so they converted it to a light shade.
The blue hanging sculpture at the base of the stairs was a wedding gift. It’s made from recycled plastic bags.
The blue hanging sculpture at the base of the stairs was a wedding gift. It’s made from recycled plastic bags.
The bathroom has a built-in bench seat and simple wooden pegs affixed to the plywood paneling for hanging towels and clothing. While the bath is basic, the view is anything but.
Faucets: Chesters
Faucets: Chesters
A garage to hold all the toys for the sun, sand and surf is adjacent to the main dwelling. The gravel drive is not only in keeping with the semi-rural nature of the area, but also provides a permeable surface that allows rainwater to drain more easily.
The site was covered in manuka, or tea trees, when the owners moved here. They cleared it by hand and it now features a central lawn big enough for a trampoline. Hardy natives such as flax allow for a great-outdoors experience that celebrates the landscape. This view looks southwest toward Karekare Beach.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation
Homes
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation
Homes
Who lives here: A couple and their two sons
Location: Karekare Beach, New Zealand
Size: 1,507 square feet (140 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: Tim Dorrington of Dorrington Atcheson Architects
That’s interesting: The house was designed to face south to capture the view toward Karekare Beach. A covered entry, which provides shelter between the living room, bunk room and laundry, frames the view like a living artwork.
The home’s simple yet striking geometry creates a presence on a site that could easily have claimed all the glory.
Two offset forms of varying height move the architecture beyond a bland rectangular box. Visitors enter via a deck from the north-facing courtyard, which seems to float above the grass.
“The deck runs through the guts of the larger two-story form, which lends a sense of continuity between inside and out,” architect Tim Dorrington says. The house is clad in Lawson cypress, which has already aged beautifully. “Its weather-beaten look makes it feel like it has been here for many years,” Dorrington says. “The owners used Australian bluegum for the decking, as it was readily available and sustainable.”