Making memories
A new design by JMAC Architecture is the perfect replacement for a much-loved bach on a Bay of Plenty beachfront.
WORDS Cassie Doherty PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Parry/Untitled Studio
After 15 years of holidaying at their idyllic Pukehina property, about 30 minutes south of Mt Maunganui, the owners sadly decided time was up for the dilapidated original bach. The responsibility of designing a replacement was bestowed to JMAC Architecture design director Jason Macdonald.
“Imagine all the Christmases and celebrations they’ve had on that site,” he says. “It’s a special place for them.”
His mission was to create a holiday home for the family of four that they’d love just as much.
“We met the homeowner on the property and were pretty taken aback by the stunning location right on the beachfront. We really talked through what the
site meant to them and we kept coming back to all the memories. Our role was to replace it with something laidback and relaxed, that still had a sense of holiday.”
It’s a generously sized rectangular site that stretches towards the beach and also has views back to an estuary. There were opportunities to better track the sun and enhance connections to the ocean.
The driveway utilises grass pavers for permeability, and a less formal bach feel. Double and single garages include storage for quad bikes, surfboards and fishing rods and there’s also a ping pong table.
A comprehensive lighting plan by 689 Lighting Design not only enhances the architectural features but considers the way the homeowners live in the house.
Yellowfox collaborated with JMAC Architecture and the homeowner on the interior design, transforming their vision into a serene and functional space. For an elevated holiday feel, a cosy and calm colour palette and rich textures reflects the beachside environment.
In many respects, the homeowners had clear ideas about what they wanted because they knew the site so well.
“They definitely wanted that waterfront deck to really roll out because they’re entertainers, and they just love to open the house up and extend it. That was a non-negotiable.”
The homeowners were keen on an outlook back to the estuary just as the old bach had, so a covered deck facing that direction was added relatively early in the design process and is ideal for when the prevailing beachside winds are too much.
While Jason says the finished home does look like it’s on the verge of the sand dune, it does sit back significantly enough to allow protection from coastal erosion. “Conditional to the resource consent is that the house is removable. It can be dismantled in the sense that it’s built on timber piles. So if many years from now coastal erosion has occurred to the extent that it’s threatening the property, it can effectively be moved.”
This gives peace of mind to the homeowners that they’re investing in something that can be handed down through the generations, but it was an involved process.
“As designers, we are coming across more of these challenges with sites, but there are solutions. Some significant design and engineering was undertaken to get the piles in for the house. It was probably one of the biggest challenges on site. Imagine trying to bore down three or four metres into soft sand without it collapsing. The builders, DC Build, were incredible in terms of finding solutions in quite difficult conditions.”
Next, says Jason, particularly in this environment, was selecting materials for the building to respond to its coastal location. “The client was quite aware of that, and even made some suggestions. We finally settled on the Nu-Wall aluminium cladding that doesn’t rust, and it’s pre-finished.”
The exterior cladding of the property in such a coastal location was an important consideration. Nu-Wall E200 in Dulux Duratec Flaxpod ticked all the boxes for maintenance and style.
Nuts and bolts taken care of, attention was given to the all-important task of recapturing the essence of the original bach.
“One of the difficult things with a brand new home is that it feels very new and precious. To soften that, we’ve used cedar quite extensively, particularly in the ceilings.”
Jason says he often tries to reclaim any native timbers from old homes, and that the homeowners re- upholstered and reused existing furniture. “There are those little nods and recognitions in the new home that are attached to the old.”
Other subtleties were utilised. “We didn’t put a front door in the design because there’s a formality around that, not belonging to the bach experience. We instead have glass sliding doors from the deck on the approach from the driveway.”
Also blurring the lines between inside and out is the design of the oceanside deck, with a roofline that tilts up to bring in more of the views.
“There’s a nice seamless flow, so it really draws you out and has that level of connection, even when you’re inside.”
And for all these bach-like inclusions, there’s a twist. Part of the brief was that this would eventually become a permanent home.
“The building’s performance is very energy- efficient and it has every convenience you’d expect in
a residential home, so the transition should be pretty simple. In most holiday homes, you often don’t have a lot of storage so we were aware of trying to build storage for the long term.”
Interiors have been finished in a pared-back palette suitable for both relaxed holidaying or long-term living. The walls were kept white to showcase the homeowners’ art pieces, and a black feature wall disguises the TV and fireplace and adds a level of sophistication. “The neutrals sit quite nicely in that coastal environment,” says Jason.
JMAC Architecture worked with long-term collaborators such as interior designers, lighting designers and landscapers. “We’ve got really good relationships so we’re on the same wavelength on our overall vision.”
That made for a very relaxed working environment. “Site visits were often timed for a Friday afternoon,
and the client was always there with beers on ice,” says Jason. “It wasn’t uncommon to see the builders taking a quick surf during lunch breaks.”
Jason says that reflects the entire tone of the build, and he’s proud of what everyone achieved. “We’ve done something really tangible. We’ve created a home for a family and given them back their special place.”
Collaboratively, he says, this was one of those projects that really came together beautifully. “We’ve been invited back for a barbecue on the beachfront as a team, so I think that’s a true testament to the success. To end up making friendships out of what we do is probably the biggest reward.”
Involved in this project
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
JMAC Architecture
07 575 2564
jmacarchitecture.co.nz
BUILDER
DC Build
022 432 8135
dcbuild.co.nz
CLADDING
Nu-Wall
09 582 0040
nuwall.co.nz
LIGHTING DESIGN
689 Lighting Design
027 296 1140
689design.co.nz
INTERIOR DESIGN
Yellowfox
07 577 5548
yellowfox.co.nz
