Doing away with the fuss of everyday life is an essential ingredient in what makes holiday time so valuable. Despite coming complete with conveniences absent from the classic bach, such as whiteware and an ensuite bathroom, this holiday home shows nothing much has changed in the way kiwis like to vacation. Simplicity is the key, with most of the living going on outdoors – a core element of the brief given to architect Jonathan Hawksworth.

“The clients wanted open-plan living, three bedrooms plus a bunkroom with built-in bunks and, most importantly, access to generous decks, with the option of an outdoor room with fireplace. The living area opens on three sides to three defined decks, which cater for different scenarios in terms of privacy, wind protection and sun,” says Hawksworth.

To the rear of the house, the dining deck is sheltered on three sides by the external walls and outdoor fireplace. It also features a pergola – with cedar battens and an exposed steel portal frame – for sun protection. The deck that extends from the dining room is positioned for midwinter sunlight and has been created by pulling the wall of the dining area in and pushing the deck out, providing some wind shelter.

To differentiate the holiday home from a normal house and extend the relaxed atmosphere, there is no formal front door, but guests arrive via a front entrance deck.

The garage is akin to a box that slides into the interior of the house, with the variable shiplap cedar cladding carrying through. This wall also acts as a fireplace surround, lending a rustic look to the interior.

“By inserting this external wall into the living space, inside and out are intentionally blurred. This harks back to the original bach, which was knocked together somewhat haphazardly,” says Hawksworth.

A functional feature is the firewood storage, which can be loaded up from the garage. Hoop pine ply is used for the ceilings and kitchen cabinetry, adding lightness and warmth. For ease of cleaning and a fuss-free look, polished concrete has been used for the living area floors, while the bedrooms are carpeted for warmth.

The roof extends at an angle over the living space, with the eaves floating over the lower level roof of the garage and master bedroom. This lends a lightweight feel to the design and gives a visual connection to the sky through the clerestory windows, which let natural light into the living space. A cedar wall in the master bedroom, the same as the garage walls, provides some continuity between the two ends of the house.

The external cedar cladding is finished in a silver stain that will allow the wood to silver naturally in a uniform way, keeping the holiday home low-maintenance in years to come.