Compson Bach, Great Barrier Island Waterfront Property, New Zealand Architecture

Compson Bach, New Zealand

Great Barrier Island Beach Property – design by Herbst Architects

14 Aug 2013

Great Barrier Island Beach House

Design: Herbst Architects

Location: Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

Compson Bach New Zealand

Compson Bach is a continuation of an exploration into a model of building that is dedicated to a specific function that of summer holidays at the beach.

photo from architect

The architects’ primary concerns in the design of this building have been:

• To create an environment that facilitates and enhances the experience of living outdoors.
• To challenge convenience as the driving force behind decisions, concentrating rather on the rituals associated with space.
• To establish a range of spatial, light and textural experiences.

The site is set back from the beach and is long and flat with an east/west orientation. On the north boundary there is a high hedge which runs the length of the site. The south side of the site is undeveloped. There are distant views of the mountains to the south and a view of the tops of the dunes to the north.

photo from architect

We chose to stretch the building along the length of the site and positioned it as close to the south boundary as possible. In this way the building creates a buffer along the undeveloped south edge and makes a precinct of the site to the north.

The exterior walling of the bach therefore acts like a boundary fence along the south side and the road boundary.

The relationship between spaces is ordered around the contention that the covered outside deck is the primary space. The covered deck is flanked by a sun trapped court and the kitchen and dining space.

To ensure the usability of the covered deck it is enclosed on two sides with the third accessorised with sliding shutters to screen the wind. An outdoor fireplace generates the required heating and ambience and acts as the heart of the bach.

photos from architect

A desire to blur inside and outside, a reference to camping, is achieved by a series of sliding components enabling the bach to open up to nature. The sliding components take the form of wind shutter and glazed sliding doors.

This blurring is further achieved by making a usually interior space, the passage, partly external. The passage has duplicity of closure achieved by the use of decking boards allow breezes underfoot, a roof over with only partial cover and shutters as closure at each end. The passage is an extension of the external covered walkway.

The textural battening of the external walling continues inside to further contribute to the exploration of in and out and where it begins and ends.

photos from architect