Under canvas
Taking cues from the lines of a tent, this holiday home in Coromandel weaves nautical references and a retro aesthetic with dashes of circularity and a pronounced verticality to striking impact. Sited on the edge of a dunescape and below the distinctive spine of the Coromandel Range, the setting is instantly recognisable as the New Zealand coastline. Here, the brief was for a family bach that wouldn’t be ostentatious. It needed to deliver a range of spaces for different aged family members and function as a year-round beach house — a place to enjoy cosy winters and long summer days. Nestled into the edge of the dunes and below the native bush-covered hills, the tones of the coastal setting move between the sandy hues of the grass-covered dunes; the ever-changing blues, greens, and greys of the water; and the rich earthy palette of the bush behind. To connect most prominently with the immediate landscape of coast and dunes, architect Kelly O’sullivan decided on an exterior tonal palette of light grey tones, picking up on the glittering colours of the sand, and the grasses, driftwood, and flora of the Tairua coast. A corrugated roof in Sandstone Grey wraps down the north and south elevations, these indicative of the sides of a canvas tent; on the other two elevations, vertical cedar delivers a juxtaposition, introducing warmth and tactility. The timber is finished with Dryden Woodoil in Platinum, a light hue that perfectly connects the building to, and anchors it within, its environment.
Inside, the cedar continues and is a prominent feature. Here, Platinum is used again, creating a seamless consistency of tone and texture between indoors and out. Internal doors pick up the blue-green of the ocean, while dusky blue tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms again reinforce the home’s natural setting.
Dryden Woodoil is water-repellent and non-filming, and penetrates deep into the timber to extend its life. Made in New Zealand, it is designed specifically for our conditions and to enhance the look and feel of timber without hiding the grain. dryden.co.nz