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This holiday home is located on the beach front at Whitianga, Coromandel. The site is severely restricted by a road-widening setback a coastal erosion setback, and a council requirement that the building must be re-locatable due to potential for rising sea levels.

The design solution is a two level house comprised of two main blocks. The sleeping zone is housed in a zinc wrapped container that meets truck-carrying dimensions. This block is suspended over a demountable, fully glazed living zone set between the east and west facing decks.

A black timber case contains the stairwell and utilities linked by a glazed bridge to the main building. A pair of in-situ concrete fireplaces, and a steel pergola complete the composition. Motorised zinc plank shutters can be raised to provide shade, privacy and shelter the bedrooms, or lowered to form a sun canopy for daytime use.

Photography by: Patrick Reynolds.

Julian Guthrie Architecture
Auckland
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE
BUFFALO BEACH HOUSE

About the
Professional

Julian Guthrie is the director of Julian Guthrie Architecture Ltd, having led a practice since 1999. Julian Guthrie leads a boutique office team specialising in the design of innovative and enduring private homes and beach houses.

Julian’s work has received numerous awards from the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and been published extensively in both local and international publications.