Buffalo Beach House
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.