With the beach reserve a few metres away and the Hauraki Gulf beyond, the section deserved the best of builds. The clients, with a background in high-end properties, knew what they wanted and had a precise brief for this multigenerational retreat. Enter the builders, who worked with the owners to deliver an exquisite 355sqm coastal sanctuary, a project that required precise crafting and coordination. The design inverts the traditional layout, so the expansive open-plan living areas are on the first floor to maximise light, vistas and coastal connection. Careful structural planning was needed to form a robust base to support them.

Beautiful white and timber-toned communal spaces flow out to covered decking at both ends. Along with the stellar views, there are two bedrooms (one a main suite) and a bathroom. Downstairs you’ll find the guest bedrooms, media room, utility room or fifth bedroom, a bathroom, laundry and a drive-through garage. The design is clever as well as beautiful. Given the proximity of the sea, durable brick veneer and vertical timber shiplap were chosen for the exterior and hardy composite for the decking. Connecting the old with new, timber framing from the original house on the site was recrafted into bespoke furniture. Solar panels with battery storage reduce grid reliance and boost long-term energy resilience. This seaside retreat strikes the perfect balance of elegance, performance and futureproofing for those who live here.