Te Horo Beach House
Living in the dunes
Located literally on the coast, 300m from the water’s edge, the salt-laden prevailing wind continuously lashing the shifting sand dunes – this house design was always going to be driven by its dramatic landscape.
As a response to its environs, the building – long and low, hunkered into the topography – becomes a part of the dunescape itself, its roof pitch following the land’s natural gradient. Silvery cladding references the driftwood piled upon the weathered coast, its orientation changing with the different activities within the home.
Inside, a lofty, open-plan living space occupies the north and enjoys all-day sun year-round. Selected openings frame Kapiti Island looming on the horizon, while clerestorey windows capture the Tararua Ranges to the east and create the illusion of the roof hovering high and protective over the interior spaces below. Outside, the dune batters up and away to protect a private, northeast-facing courtyard.
The adjacent sleeping quarters comprise a guest bathroom and bedroom to the east, and a master suite to the west with island views. To the south, the low end of the long monopitch shelters a garage, laundry and cedar hot tub perfect for drinking in the sun as it sets over the sea.
Built: 2018 | Engineer: CERTA Engineering | Builder: Pinnacle Construction
Images: Andy Spain
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