HOME magazine - Home of the Year Finalist 2009 and NZIA Gisborne/Hawkes Bay Architecture Award 2010
Jury citation: “A very strong and simple form placed lightly on the land to maximise and control exposure to the elements. Its light, honest and open nature takes its form from the old farm buildings of the area and challenges the building typology of its immediate neighbours. The deliberate emphasis on materiality and construction, with its quirky detailing, links the users with nature and the elements, paring back the bach experience without sacrificing any of the luxuries that are now expected. A delightful building that is unpretentious while at the same time being a herald of what could be.”
Shoal Bay is a remote settlement on the rugged east coast of southern Hawkes Bay. The building is designed to be part of the rural setting, raised off the ground and sitting beside the original woolshed, which has served the bay since the early 1900's. The bach is rugged yet welcoming and offers unpretentious shelter, it is the type of place where you kick off your shoes and don't need to worry about walking sand through the house.
The bach is formed of two slightly off-set pavilions, one housing the bedrooms and the other the main living space. Decks are located at each end of the living pavilion allowing the sun to be followed throughout the day. Sliding screens at the north-west end provide adjustable shelter for the different wind conditions, offer privacy from neighbouring campers and act as walls for outside sleeping.
Photography - Paul McCredie