‘Family bach’ takes out supreme award
The humble Kiwi bach has been architecturally reinvented — and the result is a supreme design award winner.
“The Family Bach”, by Cymon Allfrey, of Cymon Allfrey Architects, was last night named supreme winner of the Architectural Designers New Zealand Resene Architectural Design Awards.
It is one of the most coveted architectural awards in the country.
Last night’s accolade is just one in a long list the relaxed tent-like structure in Hanmer Springs has won.
The Family Bach gained recognition at five architecture awards events in 2018 — making it one of the most decorated designs in the country.
Judges were impressed by the striking design of The Family Bach, which features three different buildings that surround a recessed patio and timber deck that creates a “campsite”.
The two larger spaces have tilted walls and corresponding roof planes that add to the idea these could be tents, one for the kids and one for the parents.
The smaller structure is a tower which could be viewed as an upscale “outhouse”. It contains a sleepout joined to the patio with a crafted staircase.
Views across the Hanmer plains, all-day sun and protection from prevailing winds make the spaces perfect for playing outdoors and hosting summer barbecues.
Even the odd spot of rain is welcomed, as the sound of it hits metal cladding and runs into onground dispersal devices.
Judge Mitchell Coll, of Coll Architecture, said The Family Bach was a “fun design, not only in its aesthetic but also the way it encourages play”.
“Architecture doesn’t need to be boring, it should be art.
“You are better to have just 10 per cent of people who absolutely fall head over heels for your home, than 100 per cent who think it’s just nice.”