BLACKSAND Bliss by Slate

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What began as a rough sketch on the back of a tissue is now a stunning architectural escape, thanks to Slate Architecture & Construction.

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Perched on the edge of Waipipi Beach, it's where the wild beauty of South Taranaki's coastline meets the comfort of modern lodge style living, and its owners couldn't be happier.

Words by Hannah Mumby
Photography by Mid Summer Studio

The journey from dream to deckchair wasn’t without drama, however.

“We initially appointed a prefab company to conduct the build for us,” says owner, Anish Singh.

“They went into liquidation and took our deposit with them. It was a heartbreaking moment. We lost $140,000 - our life savings. But my wife Poonam simply said, ‘The dream is not over, let’s start again. So that gave me the hope and courage to give it another go.”

The family’s dream was reignited with the help of Slate Architecture and Construction, through what Anish describes as an incredibly easy, supportive and enjoyable process.

“We worked very closely with the team at Slate. They were very helpful and the communication, progress updates and quality of the build were spot on. We cannot thank them enough for helping us create this slice of heaven.”

Together, the Singhs and Slate took the tissue-paper vision, carefully shaped it through 3D software, and crafted it into Blacksands Oceanview Lodge - a threebedroom, two-bathroom getaway that now sits effortlessly on its contoured beachfront site.

From the outside, the lodge blends nicely into its surrounding landscape through the combination of black smooth and woodgrain BCG Duragroove, sprawling decks, and extensive joinery that captures uninterrupted sea and lake views.

Inside, the vibe is modern yet cosy, with negative detail plywood ceilings, an in-built gas fire, walls of Resene Sea Fog and concrete paint effects.

But it’s the freestanding bath perfectly positioned for sunset soaking, that steals the show. “It’s luxury,” says Anish. “There’s nothing quite like it.

“Every part of the lodge was carefully designed to let you relax and take in the magic of the coast,” says Anish.

Guests clearly agree, with the lodge having been fully booked since its debut on Airbnb, Booking.com and Bookabach, racking up five-star reviews and even a 2025 Traveller Review Award.

While Anish and Poonam don’t get to relax there themselves quite as much as they’d like, they take a lot from seeing others enjoy what they have created alongside Slate Architecture and Constructions' diverse team of creators and makers.

The success of the project has even inspired them to embark on another - a luxurious spa cabin retreat nestled in rural Hāwera.

“We’re very excited about it,” says Anish.

“Watch this space.”