Welcome to the third and final instalment of our series: Building New While Keeping the Old Kiwi Bach Alive. If you missed the first two stories in the series, you can catch up here. This featured home is one we are very proud to have brought to life. A much-loved family bach since 2012, the owners eventually made the difficult decision to replace the original structure with a more functional version. Thoughtfully designed to maximise every inch, the new 107m² footprint includes open-plan living, four bedrooms, a sunroom, plus an outdoor-accessible bathroom and laundry.
Building on this site required special care; with a floodplain running through the section, getting the foundations right was critical. With its exterior painted in vibrant Pohutukawa red, multicoloured interior doors, and easy-care plywood finishes inside, it just sings colourful, fun, and easy-living - the quintessential Kiwi bach, complete with a covered back deck for the whole family to enjoy.
We sat down with Peter and Maria to talk about the transition from old to new and what they love most about their new beach sanctuary. Their words truly capture the love and memories wrapped up in this home:
1. What were your primary reasons for deciding to build new rather than renovating the original structure?
Our much-loved old miner's cottage was falling apart. It sat on kahikatea tree stumps, some of them were floating in the sand. The floor bounced a bit like a trampoline and there was no insulation. It was wonderful during the summer, but very cold and damp through the winter. In our last summer before we re-built one of the window sashes fell right out of the window frame. It was time to start again.
2. Why was it important for you to retain the character of the old home? Did it hold any special meaning or memories for you?
Our old bach was full of wonderful memories and quirky features. The "Hobbit Room" had both a very low ceiling and a very short door. The kitchen ceiling was so low neither of our sons could stand up in it, but the way that the house was open to the street was wonderful. From the moment you walked in it felt like you were part of the community and the constant flow of people walking down to the beach. One of the things we loved about it was that it was a bach, it sat as a reminder of a time past, simple, small, and unpretentious. We loved the simplicity of weatherboards, and a small house on a small section.
3. What specific features or elements of the new home do you feel most strongly carry the character or significance through from the old building?
The weatherboard lines and the design evocative of the old bach that it replaced. The roof line, the use of weatherboards and vertical baseboards, and the small front deck facing the street all reflect the old building.
4. What is your favourite part or space in your new home?
The colour of the house - Resene Pohutukawa Red, with white and grey trim. It is everything that we hoped for - bright and distinct. We love the baseboards, the plywood wall linings and the wonderful open plan kitchen, dining and lounge and the way they spill out onto the deck at the rear (north facing) end of the house. We also love the colours of the interior doors, each one a different shade from Resene's art deco collection.
We admire the craftsmanship that Belco brought to the build. The wall battens on the plywood are beautiful. The mitres on the deck are brilliant, and even the flashings are perfection. Belco's attention to detail is outstanding and that was evident from the very beginning.
Our absolute favourite spaces are:
- sitting on the front deck as the sun goes down, having a drink and talking with people as they walk by, and
- sitting down to dinner on the back deck with the whole family and grandchildren.
