For twenty years, New Zealand-based Herbst Architects has been creating homes that maximize the potential of indoor-outdoor living, making the most of living landscapes.
"What's the best way to live and feel connected to the New Zealand landscape and climate?" This is one of the questions Lance and Nicola Herbst have been striving to answer since founding their office in 2000. The duo met while studying architecture at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and emigrated to New Zealand before founding Auckland-based Herbst Architects. Since then, the two architects have completed a wide range of award-winning residential, commercial and educational work. Starting with one of their earliest projects: their own bach (vacation home) on Great Barrier Island, for which they received an award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects. Today, Lance and Nicola Herbst have signed two recent designs that further demonstrate their positive and significant contribution to the built environment: the Omata Beach House and the Dune House.
MODERNIST BEAUTY
The first, accessible by a small dirt road, is a converted former beach house set in a secluded bay on the Northland coast. It is bordered by pohutukawas (a tree sacred to the Maoris) and surrounded by steep hills covered in native bush. The design began with a practical aspect: to provide protection against weather events. As the terrain included a steep slope with large boulders, the architects installed a multi-level rock dike and fabricated a stone plinth to raise the dwelling above sea level. The dunes were also reshaped to give it an organic look. They then designed the house around three basic elements: living, sleeping and storage. The pavilion part is a lightweight wooden structure with glass that looks like a floating roof. Its curved shape softens the impact of the home and elevates views of the panorama from the living spaces. All around, spaced wooden slats and sliding doors provide protection from wind and sun. An outdoor kitchen is added for alfresco dining next to a large concrete fireplace. In this type of design, the architects use a Hawaiian term, "lanai", defining a space that is neither inside nor outside.
DUNE LANDSCAPE
The second house is nestled along New Zealand's east coast. The Dune House celebrates the dunes, covered with the native plant muehlenbeckia. The project consists of two bedrooms and two small independent structures, linked by a walkway that connects the spaces. It is located 200 m from the high-water mark, in compliance with local regulations, and enjoys panoramic ocean views. The house has a simple rectangular shape, clad with a light rainscreen of wooden battens. The upper edge is sharply cut to mimic the horizon, while the curved lower part reflects the surrounding relief. Its construction on stilts maximizes the view, while avoiding the need for a two-storey structure. Another fine example of modern architecture in harmony with the environment.
