Beachside minimalism

The homeowners of this striking beach house are busy professionals with two teenaged boys and a beach-loving dog. This coastal lifestyle is an essential ingredient of life for the family who enjoy all the benefits of beach access from their new home.

The modern architectural form of this beachside residence features crisp white walls, clean lines, a neutral colour palette and an interplay of light and shadow. “We were inspired by Portuguese minimalist architecture,” says Lead Designer Fana Quinole who worked alongside Carnachan Architecture director Mark Carnachan on this beautiful example of sculptural minimalism.

“The clients requested privacy from the busy road and wanted to create their own quiet enclave for family living,” says Fana. “They also wanted separated lounging areas so both parents and kids, could enjoy entertaining at the same time.”

The social areas of the house were designed to take advantage of the sunlight with direct connection to the outdoors. The generous garden hosts a private swimming pool and spa with multiple spaces for the family to enjoy.

Inside the home, high stud ceilings and wide corridors enhance the feeling of spaciousness throughout, with careful placement of windows and doors to optimise light, views and privacy. Designed to complement the family’s lifestyle, the layout fosters openness and connection to the outdoors, while providing privacy and comfort.

The minimalist and almost all-white materiality of the exterior is softened with cedar cladding. This neutral warmth is featured inside in the form of Hurfords timber flooring. The minimalist inspiration continues throughout the interiors with white washed walls expressing the pared-back simplicity of the design. The doors are floor to ceiling in height to maximise the sense of space and light, upholding the minimalist aesthetic without any architraves or skirtings to break the clean lines.

The windows follow the same principle with smooth finishing up to the ceilings and no mouldings. All of the spaces in this bright and breezy home feel uniform and provide the perfect background for the family’s art collection.

“To achieve crisp and clean lines, the builders had to be very precise,” says Fana in praise of builder Todd Grey and his team who worked with a high level of craftsmanship and precision to achieve the smooth minimalist finishes required by the design.

“Although the build itself wasn’t complex, the minimalistic design meant every detail had to be executed with absolute accuracy. The home appears minimal in design, however, achieving those clean lines requires significant planning and precision. With nowhere to hide in the detailing, every aspect of the build must be executed with accuracy. The fine tolerances demanded close attention throughout the entire project,” says Todd Grey.

“The full-height windows and doors added further complexity, with plasterboard linings running directly into the tops of the joinery units. To achieve a superior flat finish, we used 13mm GIB Ultraline plasterboard paired with Level 5 stopping. Direct sunlight reflecting off the ocean is extremely unforgiving, especially with floor-to-ceiling glazing, so the finish needed to be flawless,” says Todd who also noted the challenge of accommodating the air-conditioning and plumbing services. With limited roof and ceiling space available, careful planning was essential. “A Posi-Strut floor joist system was selected to help manage these services. Posi-Struts feature timber chords top and bottom with a metal web lattice between, allowing long, straight, lightweight spans that can be manufactured to suit each project,” says Todd.

Fana worked closely with the clients who were very involved in the project, selecting the material and colours for the exteriors. They had a clear vision from the start and were heavily involved throughout the build. The home is clad with plaster, timber accents and glass, harmonising the beach environment.

The crisp plaster cladding from Sto New Zealand was installed by Precision Rendering and will perform well in the coastal environment. Plaster is low in maintenance, but the cedar requires a bit more attention needing to be cleaned and stained every few years. The cedar will naturally grey-out and the stain selected in a natural shade will complement that process.

Builder Todd and his team frequently work alongside The Kitchen Business and chose them for this project. The homeowners gave the kitchen designers a clear brief for a timeless, practical kitchen with clean lines, no clutter and durability with white-onwhite surfaces. This needed to be tailored to their busy family lifestyle and they were closely involved with seeing their vision through to completion.

The Florim Marble Statuario island chosen by the homeowners is at the heart of the kitchen design. The grey-veined marble with waterfall ends adds a subtle touch of drama to the minimalist white space. The benchtops in the hob area and pantry are in an understated Florim White Matte marble. The cabinetry fronts feature a smooth minimalist surface with no handles, lacquered in the soft white of Resene Alabaster to complement the benchtops.

The Kitchen Business designed and installed joinery throughout the home to maintain a cohesive, considered style consistent with the clean lines of the light, airy and aesthetically balanced kitchen. The understated white joinery continues in the media room, in the office desks, laundry, bar, bathroom vanities and storage spaces, combining practical functionality within the restrained minimalist interior.

The swimming pool is a striking focal point in the back garden. Isaac Giacon owner and director of Del Tutto Pools says: “We were originally recommended to the owners through the landscape designer, Michelle from Magnolia Designs. We supplied samples to the owner, allowing them to choose what they wanted, while offering what we felt was best suited for the pool area and feel of the design.”

The custom 10 x 4 metre heated swimming pool from Del Tutto Pools has a depth from 1.2m to 1.8 metres and was designed with an integrated 2 x 2 metre spa pool.

The pools’ plaster finish is Jewels 4 Pools Ultra in ‘Diamond with 1 quarter percent of Black oxide’ to create the grey colour and aesthetic to match the homeowners’ vision for the pool and fully tiled spa. The water treatment is a Naked Freshwater System with pH control that uses copper and silver to sanitise the water, rather than traditional chemicals, giving the water a ‘fresh’ feel. The cover is a London Underground reel system with a Duokote Thermal blanket to ensure a warmer pool, longer swimming season, reduced evaporation and reduced chemical use.

The homeowners love their light-filled beach-side residence and have fully embraced its minimalist, modern aesthetic. The open plan living area serves as the heart of the home, with panoramic glazing that captures the views of the beach and the surrounding landscape. This coastal property provides a calm sanctuary in the busy lives of its beach-loving owners.

Contact details:

Carnachan Architecture
0210 703 372
mark@carnachan.co.nz
www.carnachan.co.nz