Dune House by Julian Guthrie Architecture

Dune House

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This project is a new holiday home located within a coastal golf resort north of Auckland. The site, essentially a gently sloping sand dune provides magnificent views to the ocean beyond, and over the golf course to the wider natural landscape to the west. However, the environment is also subject to strong winds and harsh dune conditions, so the building has to respond to these challenges. The design response is to set the building low into the land, with flat timber rooves cantilevering out to form generous covered verandah zones. The layout breaks the house area into separate wings for living and sleeping zones, creating a series of sheltered courtyard spaces between. A Moroccan limestone walling has been used which mimics the tone of the sand, in combination with oiled cedar for both wall and ceiling planes. Colour accents come through with rusted corten steel, and the peacock blues of the pool. Landscaping responds to the dune setting with desert plants, and enhances the references to mid-century American modernism in the architecture. Photography by Simon Devitt

This project is a new holiday home located within a coastal golf resort north of Auckland. Read more

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“We have been clients of Julian Guthrie for approximately 20 years, within which period of time he has designed both renovations and new homes for us. The briefs have all been very different (including a new home, new beach house, and major renovation). Without exception, the results have all exceeded our expectations. Throughout the foregoing projects, Julian has also played an integral role in the management of planning requirements, and in the case of our home in Herne Bay, that process involved the complexity of obtaining consents to incorporate a character villa with additions that complemented the original home. His advice through that process, in addition to the design undertaken by him, was invaluable. In terms of that design work, we have no reservation in recommending Julian. He is an excellent communicator, and very skilled at translating a brief from a husband and wife (who do no always agree) into an outcome with which we have both been very happy. Our homes are personal to us, but undoubtedly a testament to Julian’s skills. Julian was also retained by my law firm to re-design and refit our offices. The offices are located in a challenging heritage building in the central business district. He had to take on board a number of individuals’ and personalities’ requirements in the brief. The end product, achieved in a very short duration, on budget, is outstanding. His relationship with the contractors on site was very good, all issues being resolved between them, with little input from us as clients in that process. That was of enormous value to us as busy professionals. We therefore have no hesitation in recommending Julian Guthrie and his team.”

Stephen Langton