
Coastal Landscape – Dune House by Herbst Architects
Auckland-based Herbst Architects has created a new dwelling, the Dune House, nestled along the eastern coast of New Zealand. The house is designed to celebrate the undulating landscape that surrounds it, which is covered in the native Muehlenbeckia plant. The project comprises of a main house with two bedrooms and two smaller sleepout structures, linked by a network of boardwalks that connect the spaces. The house is located 200 meters from the high-water mark, adhering to local regulations, and enjoys panoramic views of the ocean.
The Dune House features a simple rectangular form clad in a light rainscreen of timber battens, with a sharply cut top edge that mimics the horizon line, and a curved underside that mirrors the surrounding dunes. The house was built on stilts to maximize the view while avoiding a double-story structure. The buildable area for the house was in a depression in the dunes, and the land was re-contoured to bring the dunes to the new floor level.
Overall, the Dune House is a stunning example of modern architecture that respects and celebrates the natural landscape around it.