Amidst the dunes and pine forests sits a testament to relaxed, timeless design the Te Arai Buildings. These gabled timber sheds reference rural New Zealand’s working sheds. The Te Arai Buildings create a unique space against the dune edge. It feels both relaxed and timeless.
Completed in 2019, the Te Arai Buildings use timber extensively. This brings the building together as a whole. It also blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors. The interior timber is oiled. This provides warmth and subtly counters the exterior.
Sliding timber shutters moderate light, air, view and privacy. The timber cladding and roof will age. They will silver over time. This integrates the Te Arai Buildings with the landscape.
Stepping inside Te Arai Buildings, you will find a combination of sloping and flat ceilings. These provide both intimate and voluminous spaces. When raised, the sloping ceilings reach the ridge. Timber down-stands link the spaces. They consolidate the glazing and shutter lines on the perimeter.
The Te Arai Beach House manifests as a contemporary cabin in the woods. At first glance, the form appears defined. Closer interaction reveals a more complex design. Blurred thresholds and operable screens evoke a layered experience.
The focus is on creating intimate moments. These are inspired by the pines on the dune edge. The design direction was around a cabin in the woods concept. This drove the decision to cloak the building in timber. The simple gable form calls to mind agricultural sheds.
The Te Arai Buildings needed to accommodate everything from one person to large groups. The balance between a shed and a cabin was key. The internal volume has a lovely sense of generosity. The building captures the relationship between containment and openness.
Timber clads the building and lines the spaces. This warm materiality creates a comforting atmosphere. Operable shutters screen the openings. This offers additional control over openness and enclosure. Glazing and doors are pulled back from the edges. This creates deeper thresholds, arrival zones and window seats.
Concrete elements become anchor points. They give definition to the arrangement. In-situ concrete walls define the fireplace, kitchen and arrival porch. These concrete monoliths recur externally with the outdoor hearths.
Sonja Hawkins’s interior design takes a layered approach. The challenge was creating a place that could accommodate groups without losing intimacy. Referencing the woods was key. Hawkins looked for a natural earthy feel. The interiors complement the architecture’s simplicity and durability.
Furnishings and materiality tend toward the natural and organic. Materials include stone, linen, timber, leather and wool. The clients’ love of contemporary art influenced a custom wallpaper. Lisa Reihana, who represented New Zealand at the Venice Biennale, designed it. It is found in the master bedroom.
A single long timber farmhouse-style table stands in for the typical kitchen island. This reflects the kitchen’s social role in a holiday home. The kitchen is the center of the house. The design focuses on the table. Cooking is also possible outside with the DCS grill.
The Te Arai Buildings exemplify relaxation and recreation. The house is planned to respond to how someone might occupy the space. The building offers ever-changing opportunities and adaptability. It rests subtly within its environment. The cabin-like form hints at the richness created within its walls.