Feature article
Coastal wilderness
On the divide between suburban street and wild dunescape, Brian White carves a retreat from a singular form.
AI summary
Architect Brian White has designed a striking coastal retreat in Bowentown. Inspired by driftwood, the angular, sculptural home contrasts a dark, private street facade with an open elevation facing the wild dunescape.
Inside, extensive timber creates a warm, cocoon-like refuge. The design features dynamic, varying ceiling heights and intentionally omits a deck to preserve the natural landscape. The home is a unique sanctuary, offering a distinct departure from a traditional New Zealand bach.
The recessed entrance is cut from an otherwise solid street-facing elevation
Not quite perpendicular to the sea, the house is aligned perfectly with the island of Tuhua.
Image: Simon Wilson
Image: Simon Wilson
Inside, the further you move into the house the more it reveals.
The house sits about 100 metres from high tide mark, at the edge of a wild dunescape.
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