Black timber walls in a beach bach

The Bunker House

Mastery in Piha.

When art and engineering collide, the result can be a building that both delights and unsettles all who encounter it. In this case, the structure stands at a remarkable location, its design responding and reflecting the unique characteristics of the site.

The project brief called for an iconic residence where physics and sculpture could merge in unexpected ways. This ambition is manifested in the design, where a narrow 300mm wide point becomes the central pivot for a structure that seems to defy gravity itself, creating a sense of weightlessness amid its surroundings.

The building draws inspiration from Piha's fierce natural landscape and the coastal fortifications that once dotted Auckland's coastline during World War II, lending the house its name. The bunker slot also serves a crucial purpose: it shields the house from brutal natural elements as well as the bustling summer car park below, offering a sense of protection and privacy while external distractions remain unseen. Inside, the slot frames the raw beauty of crashing surf, sand dunes, and sky.

The materials used in the construction are deliberately dark and moody, evoking the history and the mystique that have long surrounded Piha. The atmosphere of the house is as much about the materials' tactile qualities as it is about the story the site tells—an interplay of place, nature, and the engineering marvel that stands upon it.

- Chris Tate

Location
Piha
Professionals Involved
Chris Tate Architecture
Chris Tate Architecture
Luxe Design
Luxe Design
Photographer
Simon Devitt
Simon Devitt
Awards
Custom Product Used

Products Used

Similar Product

The Bunker House

Mastery in Piha.

When art and engineering collide, the result can be a building that both delights and unsettles all who encounter it. In this case, the structure stands at a remarkable location, its design responding and reflecting the unique characteristics of the site.

The project brief called for an iconic residence where physics and sculpture could merge in unexpected ways. This ambition is manifested in the design, where a narrow 300mm wide point becomes the central pivot for a structure that seems to defy gravity itself, creating a sense of weightlessness amid its surroundings.

The building draws inspiration from Piha's fierce natural landscape and the coastal fortifications that once dotted Auckland's coastline during World War II, lending the house its name. The bunker slot also serves a crucial purpose: it shields the house from brutal natural elements as well as the bustling summer car park below, offering a sense of protection and privacy while external distractions remain unseen. Inside, the slot frames the raw beauty of crashing surf, sand dunes, and sky.

The materials used in the construction are deliberately dark and moody, evoking the history and the mystique that have long surrounded Piha. The atmosphere of the house is as much about the materials' tactile qualities as it is about the story the site tells—an interplay of place, nature, and the engineering marvel that stands upon it.

- Chris Tate

Location
Piha
Professionals Involved
Chris Tate Architecture
Chris Tate Architecture
Luxe Design
Luxe Design
Photographer
Simon Devitt
Simon Devitt
Awards
Custom Product Used
Timber ceiling with an ultra-wide plank
Engineered timber planks used for ceiling linings
The Bunker House
Undulating surface created with timber ceiling linings
The Bunker House
XL timber linings in a modern beach house
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