The town of Tairua in the Coromandel is a place with great natural assets. Sea, beach, bush-clad hills and all this only two hours away from the big smoke. This has not gone unnoticed and during the Christmas break the population of 1200 swells to 9000. Most of the houses here are old style baches in a pastel palette, with the curtains firmly drawn on my wintry visit.

Architect evelyn McNamara’s clients bought just such a bach, on a large beach front section. They had been looking for a long time but sections as spectacular as this do not come along all the time. The existing bach was not suitable for them and their children and grandchildren, so it was removed from the site and McNamara commissioned to design a modern take on the kiwi bach.

The site provided ample opportunity to create outdoor living spaces for entertaining family and friends. The first of these is tucked between the house and the garage, using each as a protective wall with the boundary fence on one side.

On the eastern side of the house a large open balcony looks out onto the water, a glass balustrade protects the space from prevailing winds. Inside the house the entry hall leads to the stairs and on the north side, the main living area. This is a large room that runs the length of the plan and incorporates the kitchen, formal (or grown ups) loungedining area, and informal (or television watching) lounge. The angled ceiling is tongue and groove and gives the living space a light, summery feel. This detail is continued through the rest of the house and ties all of the areas together effectively. There are large sliding doors at each end of the room. On the north wall the windows are narrow and placed up high, creating privacy from the house next door and a clear wall space for art to be displayed.

This area is warm, even in winter, due in large part to solar heating. A remotely automated system allows the clients to set the hot water and heating going when they leave Auckland. Off the living area is the master bedroom and en suite. This bedroom, like the two other double rooms upstairs, has uninterrupted views of the water beyond the front lawn. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, a bathroom and an informal lounge area. The third bedroom is a bunk room for the grandchildren that takes up the street-side of this storey. In preparation for a time when the children may not want to share a bunk room, McNamara has set the room up so that a dividing wall can easily be added down the middle of the large space. The bunk room shares with the rest of the house a relaxed beach bach feel, warm and comfortable. This is a house that will age nicely and provide a fun and functional space for family and friends.