Tim and Caroline point out other design features on a tour of the house – there’s the rock and grass fringed pool that is actually a spa, the kitchen bench with the push downdraft and the sliding doors that become walls, one even featuring a hidden, embedded television.

Thought has been given to future-proofing the house. There’s a shower space designed so it can house a lift should they need it. That’s because Tim and Caroline are so thrilled with their new build they vow they will only leave “feet first”.Their 17-year-old son, Chester, also threatens never to leave home – why would he, when he can launch his paddleboard, kayak or yacht from the end of the drive?

Every space in this 432sqm house has been built to be as useful and as flexible as possible. The media room is currently an office for Caroline, a business advisor, while the spare bedroom is property investor Tim’s workplace. Tim and Caroline could not be happier with their new home. Not only does it fulfill their detailed brief, but it also came in on time and on budget, and they enjoyed a great working relationship with their architect and builder. The couple also had to consult with 12 iwi as their land is within 50m of an old pā site, but that process went well, too.

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The ease of the build is no surprise; the couple thought long and hard before embarking on this project.

Twelve years ago the family moved from Hillsborough to Beach Haven to care for Caroline’s 93-year-old father in his home after her mother passed away. When her father died 17 months later, they rented in Castor Bay for several years before buying a decrepit house facing the water. They realised that renovating the old property would have been costly and involved compromises. It’s often cheaper to build new than renovate, says Tim.

A chance conversation with neighbours led them to Strachan Group Architects and Gary Bonham, the builder of choice in the area. Two years of planning and two years of building followed. The end result is this multi-award-winning house (the kitchen, master suite and timber have each won awards).

Though the home appears strikingly modern, Caroline says there are echoes of houses from her childhood. Inspired by Group Architects of the 1950s and 1960s, her father modified their home in Warkworth along those lines and their Beach Haven home was also built in this style. The Group aimed for simplicity and a distinctly New Zealand vernacular.

There was just one worrying moment in the whole process, when the house was partly built and all that was visible on the exterior was concrete block. Tim was concerned that the house looked too severe. But once it was completed, the black cedar cladding, yellow cedar fins and warm plywood joinery had a softening effect.

The house is built for all seasons with gas fire pits outside as well as a cafe heater, outdoor shower and a boat shed. There are two gas fireplaces in the living areas as well as a sculptural ethanol-fuelled fireplace in the bedroom.

An unexpected bonus has been the acoustics. “None of us twigged that the overlapping plywood ceilings would create great acoustics,” says Tim.

The couple were also delighted with the quality of the rendered finish on the concrete walls, given that the plasterer had never done anything like it before. They had seen a similar finish on a friend’s house in Montana in the United States.

There’s not a lot of art on the walls but the couple believe there is little need for it in a house that is a work of art in itself. The strength of the architecture overrides the need for decorative clutter and reflects the family’s aim to live simply.

Perhaps the one downside of living in a home that provides so much of its own R&R is their reluctance to leave the property. “This house keeps on giving. It’s almost dangerous because we never want to go anywhere. Then again, we both travel a fair bit for work,” says Caroline.

The location is perfect for a family of keen sailors. Says Tim: “The first thing I do in the morning when the weather is good is go down to the beach with the kayak and have a paddle before I start work. It doesn’t get any better than that.” 

Q&A

The finish that took the most amount of time to decide: Was the kitchen bench. No way was I having a join in this 4m-long bench so we had to find a material that would work. We ended up brainstorming different materials with the architects until we got this bead-blasted stainless steel. (Tim)

Bravest thing about the build: Is bringing the black cedar cladding into the inside of the house to enhance the inside/outside flow. (Caroline)

Favourite time of day: Sitting in the evening with a glass of wine in hand watching Chester teaching youngsters from the Milford Cruising Club how to sail. (Caroline)

Favourite kitchen appliance: The HydroTap. It dispenses chilled still, ice-cold sparkling and boiling hot water. Every kitchen should have one. (Tim)

I love this part of New Zealand because: Castor Bay is a tucked-away small, sheltered, private bay that is wonderful for boating. (Caroline)

Best local cafe: Piknic Cafe across the road for great coffee and breakfast. (Tim)

 

NZ House & Garden