On an elevated site above the Tara Iti golf course, a low-lying pavilion sits subservient to the landscape. The materials, neither ostentatious nor pared back, were selected to blend into its surroundings.
Set among the sand dunes of rural Mangawhai, this home by John Irving Architects is a marriage between the clients’ love of global cultures, and the coastal New Zealand vernacular. Here, the design and materiality reflects a relaxed aesthetic, expressed in the hints of luxury and leisure.
The exterior palette mirrors that of the land. Entrance is by way of rectangular coloured concrete pavers in Peter Fell’s Premium Sandstone 835, a colour that was chosen to blend into the environment. “If sand blew over the concrete, you wouldn’t see the difference”, says Michael Ross, general manager of Peter Fell. “We conducted a series of trials to find the perfect tonal match.”
Step inside, and the material palette continues with the use of light-coloured timber. From the master bedroom, the pavilion opens to an al fresco area overlooking the Pacific. Here, the coloured concrete pavers reappear – momentary reminders of the tactility and organic beauty of this ever-changing coastal environment.
