Several years in the making, this Ōakura home sits softly on its beachfront site, fortified against the elements and timelessly detailed.
It takes a gentle hand to situate a new home in an established area without it standing out as stark and shiny. While this Ōakura home is helped by the pōhutukawa trees surrounding it, its settled look can also be attributed to a dedication to detail and finish by architectural designer, Richard Furze, and the unhurried nature of the design and build process.
“The builder was there over the course of three Christmases,” explains Richard. “Initial drawings began in 2013, then this [project] was shelved and we took a different track when it restarted in 2019. We took our time and nothing was rushed, so we could get it exactly how the clients wanted it.”
A familiarity with the area — the architect spent childhood holidays braving the waves at this very beach — helped with the planning and material selection. In this often wild-weathered place, hardy finishes and a robust exterior palette were required to stand up to salt spray and high winds.
Vertical, powder-coated aluminium cladding on the upper level is colour matched with the roof, creating a sense of consistency. This is juxtaposed with a base of concrete and lightweight Integra panels with a soft grey-green marbled tone and a trowelled European plaster finish, giving the façade a subtly recessive look. The same material is used for the walls of the main living room, lending coherence between inside and out.
“The homeowners wanted something soft and not too masculine but also robust, [in order to] withstand the ocean next door while requiring next to no maintenance,” says Richard. “This understated grey-green tone to the walls, cladding, and roof fits with the trees and creates a warm, homely feeling that is still modern and clean.”
Early inspiration for the build came from pictures of a double-gabled home that the clients had admired in Nelson. This feature can be seen in the double-gabled form to the right, which contains the living room and bedrooms. Height restrictions at the right of the plan protect sight-lines from further up the road. To conform to these restrictions, the dining area is contained under a flat roof and opens onto a broad al fresco dining deck, allowing family and guests to enjoy the salt air and look down on the glittering pool below.
“They wanted the ocean vistas to be at the forefront of the design, and the house to sit back from that,” explains Richard. “The double gable fits within the pōhutukawa trees quite nicely, too, taking away the harshness of what could have been a flat, glazed front. By breaking up those layers, we allow for it to soften and you can see the nicely detailed soffits and treatments here and there.”
The main house is predominantly contained on the upper level, with a self-contained guest suite and garage/workshop below. A secondary, separate, self-contained unit is available for shortterm rentals or as a more private option for visiting friends and family.
While the plans for the main form and structure of the house didn’t change a lot from the start, Richard attributes the success of the project to the refinement of details, such as the hidden flue on the fireplace, the recessed roller blinds in the living room, and stealthy downpipes and guttering.
The stairwell and lift-shaft were carefully planned with an overhead void highlighted by a skylight and accentuated by bronze detailing and feature lighting. A perforated metal screen over the lift helps to make a feature of the space when the lift is not in use.
Many of the interior details are the handiwork of award-winning designer Annika Rowson, who designed the joinery and specified materials throughout the interiors.
“The material palette is warm and calming, with a natural approach and a relaxed aesthetic to suit the coastal environment,” says Annika. “The main residence features custom-stained VidaSpace Allegro veneer along with Taj Mahal granite, while downstairs has a more budget-oriented yet stylish application of wood grain melamine and Corian benching. The rendered walls add a beautiful tactile and gentle element, and this calm palette extends to the bathrooms and bedrooms.”
The clients’ friends and neighbours have commented that the home has a high-end look without being ‘in your face’, which is in keeping with the laid-back style of the Taranaki area. With its options for home and income, and its many carefully planned details and comfortable features, it would seem this house was worth the wait.
Words: Camille Khouri & Federico Monsalve
Images: Simon Devitt
