Designed as a warm and functional family home, the layout centres around a dedicated kids’ wing where children can enjoy their own space with seamless flow to the outdoor playground and living areas. Separate from this zone, the kitchen and lounge are positioned to capture expansive views of the local islands, creating a calm and private retreat for the adults while still remaining close enough to easily care for the children.
The master suite has been thoughtfully designed around the surrounding views, balancing privacy, comfort, and connection to the rest of the home. Natural materials and timeless finishes give the house a refined country character, featuring corrugated Colorsteel roofing, band-sawn plywood cladding with battens, and expansive hardwood decking.
Inside, white American oak flooring brings warmth throughout the home, complemented by tiled walk-in bathrooms, freestanding baths, and a luxurious spa and sauna area that creates a true retreat-style experience.
The landscaping was carefully considered from the beginning of the project, with a native planting plan designed by Andrew from The Land Project. Bringing Andrew on board early in the design process ensured the home and landscape evolved together, creating a cohesive and considered finished product. The planting palette was selected to complement the natural surroundings, soften the architectural forms, and strengthen the connection between the home and its coastal setting.
Our family friend and long-time architect Bruce Scott, who has been designing homes in Whangamatā for over 50 years, played an important role in guiding us through the design process. His experience and understanding of coastal living helped shape the home, while also mentoring our now in-house draftsman as he completed his very first set of plans for the project.
Judd Builders have worked closely with Linley and Chris over a number of years on multiple renovations to the main home, including interior remodelling, a full reclad, and later the addition of a second-storey deck with a covered roof, glass balustrades, and enclosed aluminium panel systems. That long-standing relationship made it especially meaningful when we were invited to be part of the next stage on the rear of the section.
This phase involved removing the old bach and constructing a new dwelling designed for the next generation — a place for the kids and grandchildren to gather, stay, and build their own memories, while still maintaining independence and space for everyone.
The project carried a strong sense of continuity, having worked alongside Linley through three previous renovations, and again collaborating with architect Steve Gilmore. The shared history brought a clear understanding of how the family lived in the home and what was needed for this next chapter.
The new build features a refined combination of Abodo timber cladding and Colorsteel cladding, creating a durable and contemporary coastal finish suited to its harbour setting.
One of the key challenges of the build was accommodating a large trailer boat within the design and site planning. This required careful coordination to ensure functionality was maintained without compromising the architectural intent.
Outdoor living was a major focus, with side showers, filleting benches, and generous entertaining areas designed around a large fireplace, creating a relaxed and practical space for coastal living and entertaining family and friends.
The result is a thoughtfully considered home that balances durability, function, and family connection — a place designed to keep everyone coming back, while still allowing space for independence and lifestyle freedom.
Designed for my sister and brother-in-law as a long-term family home, this build sits elevated on a hillside, taking full advantage of the expansive surrounding views over Whangamatā, the Whangamatā Bar, harbour, and surrounding coastline. The ever-changing outlook created by the tides brings constant movement and connection to the landscape, while the Coromandel Peninsula provides natural protection from the harsh northern storms.
The two-storey design was carefully planned to create separation between entertaining and family living, while maintaining strong indoor-outdoor flow throughout the home.
The upper level is centred around open-plan living and entertaining spaces, with large wrap-around decking designed to capture sunlight and maximise the outlook from every angle. The kitchen, dining, and lounge areas connect seamlessly to the outdoor spaces, creating a relaxed environment for hosting family and friends.
Downstairs, the children’s bedrooms and a second lounge provide a more private and functional family zone, giving the kids their own space while keeping the home connected and practical for everyday living.
Entertaining decks were carefully cut into the hillside to create sheltered outdoor spaces protected from prevailing winds while still remaining open to the surrounding landscape and views. These areas create unique spaces to relax, entertain, and connect with the natural contours of the site.
The working drawings for the project were completed by James Raunch under the guidance of Bruce Scott, helping James develop his skills and grow into his role as a draftsman throughout the process.
Known as “Two Flys with a Tent,” this project was thoughtfully designed to preserve the relaxed, timeless character of a classic Kiwi bach while creating a home built to endure another 25 years of coastal living.
The project began with the careful demolition of the original bach following extensive asbestos removal. From there, construction of the new home commenced, with a strong focus on durability and longevity. Throughout the build, a number of considered design and material decisions were made to ensure the home could withstand the demanding surf and salt environment for decades to come.
For owners Mike and Helen, this Whangamatā holiday home has been central to family life for more than 25 years — a place where they raised their two children and welcomed countless friends and extended family over the years. For Judd Builders, it was a privilege to be involved in a project that both honoured the memories of the original bach and marked the beginning of a new chapter for the family.
The design centred on creating a modern bach that still felt casual, relaxed, and deeply connected to its coastal surroundings. Large sliding doors fully recess to open the living spaces to the outdoors, creating the light, sheltered feeling of living beneath a tent.
Key features of the build include level-entry tiled bathrooms, polished concrete floors selected for durability and easy beachside living, and newly released Hardies vertical weatherboard cladding chosen for its resilience in the harsh coastal environment.
The original sleepout was retained and reclad, continuing to provide overflow accommodation for the many children, family members, and guests who have stayed at the property over the years.
From the outset, the vision was to create a new bach with generous entertaining spaces while preserving the spirit, simplicity, and nostalgia of the original home. The result is a home that balances durability, functionality, and sentiment — a place the owners’ children still favour over the family home in Auckland.
A key part of the project’s success was the collaboration with architect Julia Mercer of Elbow Architects. Julia brought a clear creative vision and thoughtful approach that elevated every stage of the build, beautifully capturing the essence of a modern Whangamatā bach while remaining respectful of its history and coastal setting.