Perched on a cliff in Auckland’s Herne Bay, an expansive retreat for gathering, sharing, and celebrating sought to be both bold and unassuming.
It’s the product of a fruitful collaboration between Masonry Design Solutions, interior designer Becks Silke of Franc Atelier, and Henry Dunham of Henry Dunham Building. Conceived for a family of six with a deep connection to the ocean — whose idea of home includes large gatherings, layered spaces, and a material language drawn from the land and the sea — it is a place of subtlety and spectacle in turn.
“When the clients came to me, they had a very clear idea of what they wanted to achieve — they had come across a home in Orakei they wanted this design modelled on; they had scribbles and sketches and floor-plans, so, from the beginning, it was about working with this brief to ensure we could make the most of a very challenging site with limited access and a tight building envelope,” architectural designer Mark Wilson explains.
Strict height-to-boundary ratios meant one of the levels had to be completely below ground, and the pitched roof the clients sought had to be tapered back to allow for the two above-ground levels. There were also mature pōhutukawa on-site to work around, and the need for significant piling to support the structure. An early vision was for the pool to appear as if cantilevered over the edge of the cliff.
“All of these elements meant we had to really think outside the box and get creative … it’s the sort of situation that often ends up with the best outcomes because there are no straightforward solutions,” Mark says.
For builder Henry Dunham and his team, it was the most complex parts of the build that came first. “The entire northern boundary and peninsula is a cliff edge and we were required to install over 100 piles, an average 16 metres long, to support the home. The pool end, the pool weir, and the entire entertaining platform around it are cantilevered off the cliff so the concrete structure not only needed to support the load but would also be seen from the pool platform. What would usually just be a buried concrete structure was formed to an incredibly high standard, suitable for viewing.
“Due to the limited access, the first structure we built was the pool with its cantilevered support structure below. It was not until we had completed the basement [which incorporates a gym, sauna, cinema, wine cellar, and games room] and started the ground floor that we were able to marry the two huge concrete structures together — 18 months later,” Henry explains.
From the very beginning, this was a project that grew with collaboration. “The clients were very detail oriented when it came to the finished product, which was one of the most enjoyable things for me about this project. Every idea they had during the build was fleshed out on-site — we sketched details on ply or walls, ensuring every element was crafted and finished flawlessly.”
The form that evolved is bold, but pared back. Monolithic limestone cladding was selected, but, rather than being laid uniformly, it was used in random heights to create a rhythmic sense of texture and depth. “We’ve softened this with pop-outs of cedar to warm it up a bit — with its size, that was an important part of ensuring the form wasn’t visually overpowering in its setting,” Mark says.
In total, the house covers a footprint just shy of 1200 square metres — a scale that required significant creative intervention to soften and create intimate moments of character and connection.
“When I joined the project, the structure and shell had been clearly defined,” Becks explains. “The clients were drawn to particular stones from the outset, and those became our anchor point for the interiors. From there, it was about drawing out the vision they had in their heads and shaping it into a cohesive, tactile experience.”
What began as a cabinetry commission quickly expanded into a full interior fit out. The brief was driven by the family’s love of natural textures and their desire for a home that could host everything from intimate dinners to large, lively celebrations. The planning reflects this: a series of interconnected, purpose-built spaces designed to accommodate different types of socialising — some open and animated, others quiet and retreat-like.
At the heart of the house is the kitchen, a sculptural centrepiece with sweeping views over the harbour. A monumental bronzite stone island — 3835mm long by 1490mm deep — anchors the room. “It’s front and centre, and it had to make a statement,” Becks says. A curved, slatted detail in matching stone wraps around its base, with antiqued brass layered beneath for warmth and contrast. Bar stools from Italian maker Henge nod to the international influences woven throughout the interiors.
Behind the main kitchen, a fully equipped scullery supports everyday family life and large-scale entertaining alike. With a second island, gas stove, double oven, and full-height fridge, it’s as much a working kitchen as it is an informal hub for bar staff or family breakfasts. Material continuity is a guiding force throughout the home. The cabinetry — crafted in VidaSpace Querkus oak with a custom stain — is softened with recessed brass pulls that echo the antiqued finishes elsewhere.
In the main lounge, a deeply textured stone fire surround is the focal point — fossil-like and reminiscent of shell fragments, its surface is heavily blasted to reveal raw geological depth. The walls are finished in Velvetina lime plaster by ROCKCOTE, chosen for its soft, light-catching texture.
In the family lounge, a full-height brass fire surround introduces a reflective, dimensional element, paired with Negresco stone — brushed for a rich, velvety feel. The slatted detail from the kitchen reappears here and in the master bedroom, offering subtle continuity. Throughout, timber flooring in VidaSpace’s Fendi oak — a wide-plank in a smoked finish — grounds the spaces with its muted tone and natural warmth. In the kitchen, large-format Mocha stone tiles provide a complementary surface underfoot.
Upstairs, the home offers quiet separation: bedrooms, a lounge that doubles as an office, and a guest apartment are housed here.
Outside, a fully enclosed outdoor kitchen is a year-round destination for entertaining, which overlooks the pool, spa, and firepit — a collection of outdoor spaces designed to host multiple groups at once, none encroaching on another.
“Every room in this house is a statement,” Becks says, “but what makes it really successful is the cohesion — the way the textures and materials create a sense of connection, even as each space has its own identity.”
As Mark puts it, “This was a home that was never designed to turn heads. It’s bold, but not showy. It had to fit in with its surroundings — the neighbouring homes and its setting on the foreshore — and I think it has done that nicely.”
