WAIKANAE BEACH HOUSE
Completed in 2005 this home was designed to take advantage of the natural attributes of the site and Waikanae Beach area.
10 minutes walk from Waikanae Beach this home has all the advantages of beach living without enduring the elements of coastal living, such as wind blown sand and salt water.
The home sits gently on an old sand dune orientated towards the north and west. Large glazed areas allow natural light to penetrate deep into the building and provide opportunities for connections with the external landscape. They also encourage a relaxed outdoor lifestyle and exploit views to the Waikanae Coast and Kapiti Island.
The owners had a desire for a light and airy interior, simple, relaxed open-plan living with a modern pared back aesthetic. The planning of the house allows for efficient use of floor space, and whilst the floor area is a modest 210sqm, internal rooms are generous in size. Careful planning of the internal spaces has also provided a variety of connections with the outdoors. A north facing landscaped courtyard provides a sheltered and lush area for play and relaxation, whilst a covered alfresco dining area encourages outdoor dining and entertaining with the ambience of an open fire to take the chill off cooler nights. A generous service and utility area is located to the southeast of the house, sensitively landscaped to screen washing lines and recycling bins. All rooms have an excellent quality of natural light and views to either the coast or landscaped gardens.
The buildings' relationship to the site was carefully considered, the resulting architecture addresses the streetscape in a confident and expressive manner whilst still managing to engage with the landscape. The exterior materials provide interest to the simple modern forms without becoming too fussy, they reference the "Kiwi Bach" vernacular which still exists in Waikanae Beach.
The owners made a conscious decision to mass plant areas of the site in native coastal species and to minimise lawn areas. The objective was to reduce erosion of the dune bank as well as mitigating the impact of the house on the streetscape and providing a balance between the built structure and the natural environment. Drought tolerant species have also been used to reduce the need for supplementary watering.
The resulting home is a considered response to the clients' brief, the site and the Waikanae Beach context. A light and airy beach house for comfortable living.
This home has been featured in Homestyle magazine, and recently won the New Zealand regional-ADNZ/Resene Design Awards in July 2010 and was a finalist in the ADNZ National Awards.
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