Mangawhai Heads: Life’s a beach

CHARLOTTE COSSAR checks out an innovative beach house development at Mangawhai Heads.

A rare find of exquisite natural materials deliciously melding to create practical and functional beach houses, cleverly blending with the stunning backdrop of mature natives, is now on offer at Kanuka Grove, Mangawhai Heads.

Delivering an exceptional lifestyle just one and a half hour's drive from the bustling hub of Auckland, this enclave of 11 to 17 beach homes designed by Strachan Group Architects (SGA) is a shining example of how understanding the local environment and the need for practical living needs can combine to perfection.

With all the sites being relatively level and on a sand base, the homes will have long, north-facing boundaries and be flooded with sunlight. Gorgeous manuka, kanuka and other mature trees provide inspiration and remind owners that there is more to life than car fumes and an urban concrete jungle, and designer excellence in the houses makes escaping from city life a breeze.

Dave Strachan of SGA says all the houses are to be largely self-sufficient in terms of water supply, effluent disposal and water, and space heating. "The building 'envelope' is insulated at higher-than-code standard with insulated 'passive solar' concrete slabs to provide winter warmth and summer cooling."

And, he says, that this, together with wood burners for back-up winter heating and ambience and optional roof-mounted solar water heaters to provide the bulk of hot water demand, will cater for all comfort levels.

To create interest and variety, three styles of buildings are available, each with material variations and garaging options.

Says Strachan: "Naturally expressed and/or muted materials have been chosen to fit with their surroundings. Each beach house has two bathrooms, a large communal kitchen/dining/living room and three bedrooms. The Veranda+ has a fourth bedroom/second living room option and the Breezeway has an option to divide the bunkroom into two smaller rooms."

In addition, he says, the three designs have large opening doors and walls to blur the boundaries between inside and outside, pebbled floor walk-through indoor-outdoor showers, and custom-designed kitchens, bathrooms and storage fittings.

BREEZEWAY

Sleek and chic, the stained splay-cut cedar weatherboards with stainless-steel fixings mixed with the black Onduline roof and silver pearl powder-coat aluminium joinery provide an impressive shell for the home.

The interior layout engulfs an all-weather inner breezeway deck detailed with exterior materials and finishes and boasting a central fireplace "to provide the ambience of an outdoor room, while remaining fully weather protected", says Strachan.

Cleverly cutting the home into private and public spaces, the breezeway is flanked by the main living spaces on one side with the bedrooms and service areas on the other.

Says Strachan: "A translucent wall with large sliding doors opens the kitchen/dining/living space to the breezeway, greatly extending the useful communal areas in all seasons."

Arranged for flexible use, there are double bedrooms at the end of the breezeway and a versatile central room, which could be a second sitting room, large bunkroom or even divided into two single bedrooms.

TENT

Zincalume and aluminium rule in this home, which is "based, quite literally, on the original square canvas tents that littered New Zealand camping grounds 30 to 40 years ago".

The canvas has been replaced here with funky modern materials and large sliding windows, and roll-up sides provide a flexible tent-like interior, linking the structure with the outdoor living spaces.

At the heart of the layout is the kitchen leading to casually arranged living and dining spaces, which are oriented to the north.

And enjoying either morning or afternoon sun are the three bedrooms. A walk-through shower, bathrooms and a laundry accessed from a small private southern deck complete the groovy home.

VERANDA, VERANDA+

The long linear plan of these houses with their simple shed-like roof forms tipping up to the north, allows all the living spaces and bedrooms to open up to the sun as if living on a veranda, says Strachan.

Allowing for privacy, the main bedroom and en suite are separated from the other bedrooms by the central living areas, which include a kitchen, dining and living room.

Large sliding doors in the main living space open on both sides, seamlessly extending the living outside while providing cooling cross-breezes to circulate through in summer. "The south side sliders are insulated shutters so the house can be closed up for winter cosiness," says Strachan.

INTERIORS

Awash with luxurious fittings and fixtures, the interiors of the houses share a common theme, yet there are options to add your personal touch.

From the moment you enter, polished concrete floors sweep you through the swanky abodes destined to deliver comfortable living year round.

In the kitchen, a choice of pear, tawa or white melamine with aluminium handles, and stainless-steel benchtops and appliances offer the best in functionality. A mobile bench, which can be used as a normal servery or wheeled outside to double as a barbecue bench, is another designer plus.

And a modish finish is achieved in the bathrooms where there are indoor-outdoor walk-in showers with pebble floors, European wall-hung vitreous china fittings and chrome tapware, and custom-designed storage units.

An exciting development in one of the most beautiful areas of New Zealand, these beach houses are destined to make a big impact on the local topography.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Kanuka Grove, Mangawhai Heads.

FEATURES: 11-17 beach houses; generous section sizes; three designs; two bathrooms, a large communal kitchen/dining/living room and three bedrooms (Veranda+ has a fourth bedroom/second living room option and Breezeway has an option to divide the bunkroom into two smaller rooms); various garaging/carport/boat garaging options are available; excellent outdoor entertaining areas; all three designs have pebbled floor walk-through indoor-outdoor showers and custom-designed kitchens, bathrooms and storage fittings.

PRICE: From $428,250.

AGENTS: Dianne Christensen and Christine Birss, Bayleys. Ph 09 431 5415 bus; Dianne 025 959 798 mob; Christine 027 235 4323 mob.