The living is easy
A beachy new build by Gary Todd Architecture is perfectly at home tucked behind the dunes in coastal Dunedin.
WORDS Cassie Doherty PHOTOGRAPHY Gareth Harvey
This laid-back new build in Otepoti Dunedin is only metres from the ocean, says Gary Todd of Gary Todd Architecture. Walk south, past an adjacent reserve and over the sand dunes, and you’re in the sea. To the north are idyllic vistas of rolling green pastures.
“The inspiration for the house came from the setting and the context. It’s informal and relaxed, with all-day sun and great views to the countryside. The material and colour palette have come from the fact that it’s next to the sea,” says Gary.
There are polished concrete floors and whitewashed plywood lining, a tranquil sandy colour palette and timber-grain joinery running throughout. The form is long and low, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that are something of a signature for Gary. It’s low-maintenance, clean and crisp.
Given the casual style and location, you could be forgiven for thinking it is a holiday home. But this area of Brighton, about 20km from central Dunedin, is fast developing with permanent homes. This house is one of two that have replaced an old bach that was removed – the site transformed by two modern residences, showcasing sustainable development.
The thoughtful design extends beyond the coastal aesthetics, with a focus on economic and environmental sustainability and efficiency. “This is built to quite a high specification,” says Gary.
A high-performance thermal envelope and balanced ventilation system reduce energy consumption, and the extensive glazing maximises solar gain in conjunction with the heated concrete floors. “The house only moves plus or minus two degrees from its normal resting temperature of 22 degrees,” says Gary. “It’s very smart design, construction and management.”
Other eco-friendly practices include high levels of insulation, minimising waste and the use of non-toxic paint. An efficient layout keeps the footprint compact, making the most of the site. Native planting draws a connection to the rural outlook, and there’s a natural flow to outdoor living areas.
The tile on the splashback and kitchen island is Navona Honey Vein Matt from Tile Space in Dunedin. It’s a classic warm travertine-look product that’s practical as well as beautiful, and it perfectly complements the beachy interiors of the home.
For a home that was designed to withstand harsh coastal elements, it’s light and airy. Anodised aluminium joinery complements the cedar cladding, and the expansive glazing means the louvred roof appears to almost float above the rock wall and pebble landscaping.
That sleek profile means it’s sheltered from windy conditions by the sand dunes, yet it’s raised just enough from the street frontage to afford the property more privacy. Those dunes, however, mean the house is built on incredibly sandy soil. A trusted builder was therefore crucial: Mike Kapua Builder.
“We have a long history of doing projects with Mike Kapua,” says Gary. “He’s excellent to work with and delivered the building on time and on budget. Together we create high-quality projects and great value for our clients.”
Mike also enjoys the collaboration. “I consider myself pretty lucky to be able to work with Gary,” he says. “He gets us involved early in projects where we can have some input into the details of the design. It’s a huge help for us because by the time we get to the actual build, we know exactly what’s happening.”
The groundworks on the sandy soil were a challenge, requiring forward thinking and careful planning, all
in a day’s work for Mike. “It’s interesting, the problem- solving,” he says.
The roof, too, needed particular attention. There were height requirements so as not to block the neighbours, as well as robust membrane waterproofing with a very minimal one-degree fall, and a ventilation system to fit into a slimline ceiling space. “That’s where a lot of the hard work was done,” says Mike. “Which is unfortunate because it’s not seen!”
Luckily there were also finer design aspects to focus on, such as negative detailing in the interior lining and recesses for the blinds. “Gary’s plans are really well detailed. And if there are any issues he’s really easy to contact. Often I’ll just call in at the end of the day and sit down in his office and discuss the project. It’s good to have that sort of relationship with an architect where you can bounce ideas around.”
Mike loves working on high-end architectural builds. “It’s so rewarding to be able to stand back and look at something like that. I’m pretty proud of it.”
Gary is happy with it too. It’s high-quality but not ostentatious, he says, and contemporary but timeless. “You feel like you’d want to be on holiday in this house.”
Involved in this project
ARCHITECT
Gary Todd Architecture
03 488 4594
garytoddarchitecture.co.nz
BUILDER
Mike Kapua Builder
027 774 2051
BENCHTOP & SPLASHBACK TILES
Tile Space Dunedin
03 477 2305
tiles.co.nz
WATERPROOFING
Sealco Ltd
0508 732 526
sealco.co.nz
The easy-living style of the house belies the technicalities of creating it. The all-important membrane waterproofing on the roof was installed by Sealco and is a vital, if unseen, ingredient in the success of the build.
