Piha: Bach of two halves

A luxury bach has been designed to become two independent dwellings.

87 Marine Parade, North Piha.

With surround sound, gas heating, PBX wiring and a spa pool, this is a beach house that would not be out of place in the bays.

But perched above North Piha beach it is in a league of its own.

Only five years old, it is an oasis of luxury that struggles to be called a bach. Owner Rick Ellis recounts how, although he had a family connection to Piha going back to his childhood, it was not until his son Sam had a friend there that he really got to know and love it.

"I'd been coming out to pick him up or drop him off when this section came up. It had been owned by an American for more than 20 years and nothing had been done with it. We leapt at it because it was the last bit of land not built on just a few metres back from the beach yet with a little bit of height."

Employing architect Ron Dykman, who they knew from previous projects, they came up with an eye-catching design that maximises the views while staying within the tight 15 per cent land coverage rules.

"We had to bury the water tank under the garage in a massive hole, but we wanted the house to be as big as allowed so that we could accommodate the whole extended family at times."

Sandie Ellis is from Rarotonga, and the Ellis family has lived abroad extensively as a result of Rick's career (he is a former CEO of TVNZ, and is now New Zealand managing director of global IT company EDS). They've made lots of long distance friends, so a place where large gatherings could be held was paramount in the planning process.

As a result, the deck off the main living room is built exactly to the size of a particular marquee that can be hired for parties. Daughter Kelly had her 21st here a year ago and the marquee allowed the living space to become large enough to house all her friends plus the family. While the house, tucked in under the lee of the hills, is extremely sheltered from the southerlies, like all west coast properties it can be battered by the westerlies. With a marquee in place the parties can continue uninterrupted.

But not only large gatherings are catered for. Because it is a beach house and only used intermittently by the Ellis family, it was designed in such a way as to allow it to be divided into two fully equipped independent dwellings. Both have comfortable master bedrooms and bathrooms as well as bunk rooms which can sleep up to four in each. As one big house it can easily accommodate the sleepover that 12-year-old Zoe is planning for her birthday, but with the interconnecting, soundproofed door locked, both areas are private and comfortable. Teenager parties can be held downstairs with direct access to the outdoors.

The spa pool, which everyone uses as a warm up after being pummelled in the wild West Coast waves, is easily accessed for users of both units on a sheltered side deck, as is the warm outdoor shower, positioned to remind everyone to wash the sand off before coming inside.

The landscape and its vegetation are reflected in the design elements which make the house so dramatic.

The supporting pillars are plastered to look like the trunks of nikau palms, while the huge fan shaped windows which let in so much of the spectacular views are positioned in such a way that they take on the form of the crown of the tree.

Oversized portholes and a bleached barrel vaulted ceiling with curved laminate timber beams again reference the maritime location.

The Ellis family have loved their time at Piha and intend spending as much of their last summer there as possible.

However, they are regretfully selling it with the intention of building something in Rarotonga so that they can be nearer Sandie's family and experience a bit of quality time in the South Pacific.

As Rick says, "You only get one life, and if we don't do it soon, it will be too late. But we'll never forget this place."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGE: 1+

SIZE: Land 1171sq m, house 312sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: High $1 millions.

CONTACT: Sherie O'Neill, Piha Property Brokers, ph 812 8112 bus, 0274 755 055.

INSPECT: By appointment.

FEATURES: Architect-designed luxury three-storey beach house with ocean views from all levels. Surround sound, spa pool, gas heating. Can be used as family home or two independent units.