Bowentown bliss

From the outset, the vision was clear: a place of escape and connection. Amid the dunes, the perfectly positioned home basks in sunlight, yet is sheltered from prevailing beachside conditions. The clients’ desire for a spacious, versatile residence with floors elevated much higher than the existing property places the ocean and dormant volcano Tuhua in full view.

Architectural designer at Creative Space Architecture, Regan Little, says connecting with nature’s beauty was a principal philosophy. Long, linear lines emulate sweeping horizontal landforms. The material palette leans raw, tactile and authentic. Interiors by Twill Interiors combine natural textures with rich, warm
browns. A strong indoor-outdoor connection is maintained site-wide. “This project reflects our practice’s commitment to designing thoughtful, site-responsive homes that balance performance, functionality, and architectural clarity,” Regan says.

“The Bowentown home was a particularly rewarding project because it so beautifully combined its coastal environment with the clients’ vision for a relaxed, yet refined family home,” managing director of JBH Builders, Justin Horler, says. “Being on the beachfront, the design needed to respond to both the dramatic natural surroundings and the practical demands of coastal living.”

The deeply collaborative project saw shared expertise multiplied, not merely added, resulting in an award-winning outcome. “The open communication and shared commitment to quality allowed us to explore material choices, and detailing that enhanced the home’s connection to the coast while meeting the clients’ functional needs,” Justin says.

Developed during the Covid 19 lockdown through a series of online meetings between Creative Space Architecture and the clients, the early concept sketches evolved into a realised project, with the original brief remaining largely intact and clear throughout. The ground floor living area is located centrally, so all occupants can enjoy easy access. Upstairs, this connectivity remains, with a large open-plan space that flexibly caters to two or twelve.

Twill Interiors approached the home with a “refined blend of raw textures and modern sophistication”. Warm timber accents and careful detailing soften the Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) build. “This home balances warmth, durability, and timeless style, where board-formed concrete and cedar create a striking façade, incorporating oak, stone, and soft natural textiles to deliver understated luxury within.

Subtle lighting and bespoke detailing ensure it feels atmospheric and immersive without detracting from the calm, coastal palette that defines the rest of the home.

The entertaining spaces are another dynamic and perfected response to the client’s vision. “The house had to have a functional wine tasting cellar,” Regan says. Wine & Wood brought this to life with a wine room that can only be described as top-shelf.

The brass finish was a considered choice, the Liv Light team says of the stairwell lighting chosen. “Not only does the Halo pendant complement the material palette of the home, but the weight of the fittings also helps minimise movement within the open stairwell environment. The circular form creates a soft, diffused glow, adding warmth and depth to what is otherwise a clean, architectural space.”

This level of thought is maintained across the home. Discreet downlights and magnetic track systems provide flexibility, while integrated LED extrusions set into cabinetry and architectural details showcase key spaces. Sleek, secure and streamlined, glass balustrades by Provista excel in form and function.

Joinery and thoughtful design by The Kitchen Business creates a dreamy heart of the home. The wine cellar is carefully integrated as both a display and experiential space, designed to elevate entertaining while maintaining the home’s overall architectural restraint.

“Engineered timber flooring, cabinetry, and joinery create a cohesive, warm base that contrasts nicely with the otherwise minimal white interior. Whites, soft greys, and muted finishes are used throughout walls and furnishings, allowing materials and views to take visual priority. The exposed concrete fireplace and feature walls introduce a raw, tactile quality that balances the softness of timber and upholstery.”

Each bedroom was designed as a private retreat with a generous en suite. Taking from the material palette across the home while leaning into the beachside vibe naturally lent to the property, each bathroom epitomises a major design focus of the build: seamlessness.

Subtle floor level transitions and ceiling height changes shape a flowy spatial experience. This circulation continues with wide hallways and open spaces. Thresholds are aligned at the same level between inside and outside, and large sliding glazing systems are key transition services.

Utility spaces are pushed to the south and east; the home’s careful zoning strategy translates to easy living. “There is minimal dead space; every square metre of the home offers functionality,” says Regan. Together, every inch of the property forms one perfectly united whole.

Technology is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the property, elevating everyday living through intelligent automation. Delivered by TecSystems, the integrated system allows effortless control of a state of-the-art security system, as well as lighting, climate and other functions from anywhere in the world. This level of connectivity enhances convenience while supporting energy efficiency, allowing the home to adapt intuitively to changing needs.

Together, the home’s thoughtful design, high-quality finishes, and integration of technology contributed to its recognition in multiple categories, including Regional Gold for excellence in design and execution, the Schneider Electric Smart Home Award for innovation in residential automation, and a prestigious place in the House of the Year Top 100.

The exterior combines vertical cedar cladding, Sto Armat render, and prefinished metal cladding to clearly express different building volumes,” Regan says. This helps to break down the scale of the two-storey form, notably the very high (3.8 metre) ground to first-floor height, which he says was a specific project requirement.

Fit for its environment, these material choices focus on durability and longevity. High-quality acrylic plaster and aluminium cladding and screening over the ICF substrate form a resilient exterior that withstands marine conditions while maintaining a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.

“This material was expressed in selected areas inside the home to add depth and to reinforce the narrative of the primary structural system,” Regan says.

Creative Space Architecture designed the two-level residence using Insulated Concrete Form construction, delivering exceptional thermal performance, structural strength, and long-term durability, all vital in a demanding beachfront setting. Working closely with Kirk Roberts Consulting, the structural and geotechnical framework was carefully resolved to support the home’s elevated form, expansive openings, and exposure to coastal conditions, ensuring the architecture is as resilient as it is refined.

Passive house principles run through the coastal haven. Concrete floors and other exposed concrete elements assist in regulating the temperature indoors. Prevailing southwest winds were a key design consideration. The exposed, and at times severe, coastal location saw special attention paid to specifying materials and finishes. Shading was another key factor; generous roof overhangs were designed for solar control and maintaining comfortable internal temperatures during the summer months.

“While ICF construction has higher embodied carbon due to its concrete core, it offers excellent thermal performance and long-term energy efficiency,” Regan reflects. “In this project, the integration of a large solar system by Bay Solar helps offset operational energy use, making the overall building performance more sustainable over its lifespan.”

After the design and documentation process, JBH Builders and their team of skilled subcontractors delivered the home with precision and restraint. Nowhere is this more evident than in the exposed concrete, where carefully executed formwork elevates structure into something expressive, tactile, and enduring.

Rather than relying on a single gesture, the home succeeds through consistency, a calm repetition of considered decisions that allow the architecture to sit lightly within its coastal setting. Long horizontal lines, softened material transitions, and a grounded, weather-resilient palette give the house a quiet confidence against the dunes. The result is a relaxed yet highly resolved beach house that feels effortlessly connected to its dunes-and-ocean environment.

Contact Details
Creative Space Architecture
07 543 3030
studio@creativespace.co.nz