By Rough Milne Mitchell Landscape Architects
Located within the Tara Iti golf resort to the south of the Mangawhai estuary and bordering the beachfront to the north of Te Arai Point, the property provides commanding views over the surrounding golf links, dunes. Distant sea views towards the Hen and Chicken Islands and Whangarei Heads are an added bonus.
RMM's landscape design vision for this stunning residence was to ensure the existing ‘wild and untamed sand dune landscape’ was not compromised. The design incorporates the dunes that fold and wrap around the site to complement the various spaces and create a sense of ‘living within the dunes’.
Design elements include a sunken fire pit, private spa deck, sculptures, subtle amenity lighting and a private golf green. A large undulating lawn links the house and the dunes. Plants were carefully selected for their sculptural, seasonal variation and ecological benefits. The range of native plant species is suitable and tolerant to coastal conditions, sea breezes and sandy soils. The dune system and mass native planting provide habitat for local invertebrate and native bird species.
The selection of materials, colour and textures all provide a connection with the site's surroundings and the wider landscapes, whilst complementing the architectural interior/exterior of the residence.
We are a landscape architecture practice with studios located in Christchurch, Auckland, Nelson, Wānaka and Dunedin. Over the past 25 years, we have developed a reputation for excellence through our collaborative style of working and highly skilled team. Our focus is to create innovative, sustainable solutions that connect people to their environments.
Our expertise and adaptable structure enables us to work confidently in a wide range of fields. While we concentrate on delivering the best service for our clients, we continue to foster our team's professional growth and broader industry support.
At RMM we're passionate about working with our clients to realise their vision. Our design response begins with ensuring that the site is fully understood. From the initial concept to detailed design and project management, the design process ensures that the aspirations and vision of our clients are realised. We offer a fully integrated design service, at a variety of scales, to suit every budget.