PEKA PEKA BEACH HOUSE
We were approached by a young couple in July 2005 who were looking to purchase a coastal property on the Kapiti Coast (Peka Peka). They were keen on a site but were unsure as to whether it would meet their needs.
The site was purchased in September 2005 and SPACE were engaged to commence Preliminary Design drawings based on the following brief;
- The house was to be small, 130sqm, reflecting the modest construction budget available
- Main bedroom was to be orientated to the Tararua foot hills and morning sun aspect
- Kitchen was to be quite basic with a small dining/living space located adjacent
- Study/Second bedroom to be provided off the entry
- Living areas were to be orientated to the beach/dunes and N/NW sun
- A first floor area was to provide an artists studio space which would maximise views to the beach and to the mountains
- Provision for on site sewage disposal (septic tank) was required
- The construction budget was to be $300 -350K
- Provision was to be made for Garaging and additional bedrooms to be built as part of a stage 2 development.
The site forms part of a natural dune, adjoining the beach is a coastal preservation zone which cannot be built on and protects the coastal views from this stie. The lower part of the site was unsuitable for building on as it was identified as being prone to flooding, a portion of this lower area was also designated as a no build zone as a condition of the title.
It was decided to locate the house on the top of the dune for the site planning issues mentioned above and to obtain the views to the coast and the Tararua's from the first floor studio while minimising the required height of the building to achieve these views.
The building comprises 2 main volumes; a single storey main living/kitchen/bedroom/bathroom and the second volume being a two storey second bedroom/studio space accessed by a central stair.
Consideration was given to the highly exposed site and the proximity to the sea. For this reason the main volumes were clad in a marine grade pre-finished folded aluminium sheet with other walls clad in paint finished plywood panels with exposed anodised aluminium flashings.
