Otama Beach House / David Berridge Architect

Otama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Windows, CoastOtama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Windows, FacadeOtama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Windows, FacadeOtama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Windows, FacadeOtama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - More Images+ 26

Coromandel, New Zealand

Text description provided by the architects. This beach house is intended to create a place where the New York based architect can reconnect with his New Zealand roots and bring back to his homeland an aesthetic and way of living that combines what he has experienced in the 30 years away and what he still remembers from his beach orientated upbringing.

Otama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Table, Chair
©  Patrick Reynolds

The site, located on the knuckle of the bend in the road, is pie-shaped and tapers as it slopes up the hillside from the road. This limited the building envelope Therefore, in developing the design care was taken to minimize the size of the rooms and to develop an efficient, flexible living space that connects readily to the outdoor areas. It was important to maximize the views, both seaward over the reserve across the road, and up the back of the site to the hill that dominates the Otama settlement.

plan

The architect, used to living in the tight quarters, used the same dimensions of their living/dining space in their midtown Manhattan apartment and then to ease the transition from the city to the beach used the exact same layout and detailing as his NYC kitchen. However here the transition to the outside is the essence of the beach experience so the living space is surrounded on three sides by decking.

Otama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Windows
©  Patrick Reynolds

Both because of cost and the reluctance to use urban materials the exterior wood elements are rough sawn lumber with the horizontal screens using standard farm fencing battens.

Otama Beach House / David Berridge Architect - Facade, Windows
©  Patrick Reynolds

A minimal amount of site work was done to eliminate the need for any retaining walls etc and other than the development of natural contoured walkways the site is as undeveloped as possible and has been planted out with native grasses, shrubs and trees.

Project gallery

See allShow less
About this office
Cite: "Otama Beach House / David Berridge Architect" 08 May 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/232351/otama-beach-house-david-berridge-architect> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.