Seeking Shelter

A beach house on Waiheke Island quietly slips from view.

- Jo Bates

Simplicity is an art form. Making something appear effortless, when the opposite is closer to the truth, takes much more than a sleight of hand. This weekender by John Irving on Waiheke Island is recessive and quiet on its site – quite a feat given its public nature, with the beach to the north and a public walkway to the west. The design gives the owners exactly what they asked for – privacy and views – without doing anything “as crass as putting up a fence”, says Irving.

The owners approached Irving after seeing a holiday home he had designed elsewhere on the island on a similarly public site, which featured in our December 2016/January 2017 issue. They liked the simplicity of its gable form and the privacy of its sheltered courtyard.

They had been happy in their original bach for a number of years, and when the need arose for change they wanted to maintain the humble nature of the old bach in its new iteration. “They definitely didn’t want to be screaming ‘here we are’ on the beach,” says Irving. “We wanted to be as low-key as possible. It doesn’t catch your eye.”

There are clever moves that ensure the 200-square metre house recedes on the site, yet still accesses light and views. The single-story home is a series of three gabled boxes arranged around a courtyard and set back from a slightly built-up lawn, which prevents the living area becoming a fishbowl.