This beach house on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand, designed by Paul Clarke of Auckland-based Studio2 Architects, is sympathetic to its dune environment. The Scandinavian-style oak-lined interiors exude a sense of peace that gives the owners, a couple with three children, a tranquil space to socialise and relax during their breaks from the city.
On arrival, visitors are led upwards from ground level to the open-plan kitchen and living area overlooking the beach through floor-to-ceiling windows: “It’s like being on the bow of a ship sitting over the water,” says Paul.
The kitchen is a natural focus for social activities in the house, with a large cantilevered island bench setting the stage for everything from morning coffee to evening drinks. An adjacent bay window seat and 12-seater table enlarge the space further.
It’s a thoroughly social experience, and a space that everyone can be part of.
Paul chose to integrate the appliances, allowing the wood interiors to flow seamlessly through the kitchen. This preserves the coastal feel of the home, building on the experience of indoor and outdoor spaces that seem to meet in an unbroken line.
“A logical layout is always key to entertaining,” says the architect. “This kitchen is designed to do that efficiently and so people can come in to help without getting in each other’s way.” Wall ovens and an integrated refrigerator freezer are positioned at opposite ends of the space, five-burner cooktop is in the middle across from the stainless-steel sink, and two DishDrawer™ Dishwashers are in the island.
