270 degree views of the Kapiti Coast!

The beach house sits in top of a small dune, one block back from the sea on the Kapiti coast. The client’s interest in modernist architecture , combined with 270 degree views was the basis of the brief which included 3 to 4 bedrooms and plenty of external deck areas.

The site is buffeted by different weather conditions throughout the year so it was important to design a number of external spaces that could be enjoyed for a number of uses throughout the year. These include a covered area off the dining room, an un-covered area off the lounge, a full roof deck and a ground level external kids area.

The living space is on the second floor and comprises a big open plan area that flows onto a covered deck. This deck is linked both to the ground floor and the top deck by a steel spiral staircase.

The house is a holiday home for a family of two adults and two children (plus friends) so the bedroom layout included a ‘flexi-room’ between the two childrens’ bedrooms. These rooms could be opened up via sliding partition doors to create one large open play space, or closed to create two bedrooms with a third room between.

The material and colour palette is intentionally recessive given the beauty of the surroundings. Dark-stained rusticated, bandsawn cedar weatherboards form the cladding and complement the smooth, dark and angular engineered beams and posts.

The beach house sits beautifully on the site with a backdrop of the hills behind it. It is a truly unique home on a unique site which will weather beautifully into the Kapiti landscape.