Icon - Arrow LeftAn icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. Icon - Arrow RightAn icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Icon - External LinkAn icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - MessageThe icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - Down ChevronUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - CloseUsed to indicate a close action. Icon - Dropdown ArrowUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Location PinUsed to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Zoom OutUsed to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Zoom InUsed to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - SearchUsed to indicate a search action. Icon - EmailUsed to indicate an emai action. Icon - FacebookFacebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - InstagramInstagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - PinterestPinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - TwitterTwitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Check MarkA check mark for checkbox buttons.
You are reading

Architect Visit: A Portable Beach Cabin, Sleds Included

Search

Architect Visit: A Portable Beach Cabin, Sleds Included

July 10, 2014


New Zealanders call them “baches”; small, simple wood vacation houses for no-frills holidays by the sea.

One definition of a bach is “something you built yourself, on land you don’t own, out of materials you borrowed or stole.” Auckland architects Crosson Architects take the bach concept a step further, adding portability to the equation by anchoring the structure on two heavy wooden sleds. Located in a coastal erosion zone on the Coromandel Peninsula, where houses must be mobile, “the house is a response to the ever-changing landscape that lines the beachfront,” the architects say. To see more of the firm’s work, go to Crosson Architects. Photographs by Jackie Miering.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-8

Above: The cabin is clad in macrocarpa wood and blends into the landscape. According to the architects, “The hut comes to life when the enormous shutter on the northeast side winches open to form an awning.”

700_crosson-clarke-carnachan-2
Above: When the owners are away, the cabin can be closed off completely to protect against the elements.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenistaAbove: The shutters on the side windows are opened to let in light and air.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-7

Above: The industrial-strength winch used to crank open the shutter on the facade.

Portable beach cabin New Zealand bach; Gardenista

Above: Glass doors swing open to reveal the interior, which is simple and compact.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-4Above: The family’s three children sleep in a triple-tiered bunk room.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-2Above: A ladder leads to a mezzanine bedroom.


portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-5Above: Throughout the cabin, the architects used industrial fittings and fixtures.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-6Above: The tiny sink is tucked into a corner bath.

portable-beach-cabin-bach-gardenista-3
Above: The roof terrace catches rainwater to fill the storage tanks.

For another favorite New Zealand bach, see Outbuilding of the Week: A Shipping Container Transformed into the Ultimate Holiday House.

Updated from a Remodelista post originally published August 27, 2012.

(Visited 508 times, 2 visits today)
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.

Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Join the conversation

v5.0