The Coast House

The Coast House is a small holiday house located on the rugged South Coast of New Zealand. 

The site faces North, gently descending to the dunes, with windswept trees inspiring the low, grounded form. The structure is bedded into the landscape, hunkering down from the harsh coastal weather. Materials and colours are deliberately pared back so as not to compete with the natural environment. The two forms collide, with the black form dominating the brown. Inspired by the ocean waves journeying from the distant mountains across the bay and crashing into the shore. The house is wrapped around a large windswept native beech tree, and opens to reveal views across dunes, the ocean and snow capped mountains. Entry is through the brown grounded form. The exterior has been prepared for native plants to eventually climb over and conceal it. The entrance area is designed for coats and boots to be stored. The interior is oriented for sun, views and solar gain. Materials are raw and stripped back internally with a reduced palette of two internal linings matching the two external claddings. The home features extremely low energy use, with SIPs construction and a wood burning fire for heating. Rainwater is collected from the roof. The home was designed to be sustainable, with a small environmental impact. It could also be relocatable should sea levels rise. The Clients wanted a discrete hideaway retreat that was warm and luxurious. Making the most of a remote site with coastal views... on a very small budget.