The designer of this award-winning beach house wasn\u2019t afraid to challenge preconceived notions of coastal living.<\/p>\n
\n It took a blend of courage and outside-the-box thinking to dream up the design of this Piha bach. Situated amid the raw beauty of the west coast\u2019s crashing surf, black sand and bush-clad hills,
\n the project was a welcome challenge for designer Chris Tate of Chris Tate Architecture.\n <\/p>\n
\u201cWe always knew it was going to be amazing,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was a labour of love from the start.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tate worked closely with the owner to realise his vision, a process that involved exacting attention to detail throughout the design and construction. From the initial concept, it took 14 years to complete.<\/p>\n
The extraordinary site demanded a design that could withstand relentless wind, salt spray and summer crowds \u2013 without compromising connection to the landscape. The owner shared his ideas with Tate, leaning into his design ingenuity for an innovative solution. The result is a grounded, weighty and unapologetically protective structure dubbed The Bunker. It has a form that is at once defensive and poetic. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe design draws inspiration partly from fortifications that once dotted Auckland\u2019s coastline during World War II, hence the name,\u201d Tate says.<\/p>\n
Piha house. Designer Chris Tate. Photo \/ Simon Devitt<\/p>\n
What elevates the holiday home is its ability to evoke emotion through engineering. The clever, inventive solution he came up with looks like a V but is actually an X, piled 18m through sand into bedrock. It gives the exterior and interior of the beach house an elegant simplicity. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a conventional bach but it works as a design solution for this particular set of circumstances,\u201d he says. \u201cThe audacious cantilever not only pushes structural boundaries but also elicits a visceral response \u2013 uncertainty, wonder and intrigue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bach is designed to be a place for gathering with friends, as well as a peaceful retreat for the owner. The deliberately dark and moody tones create a true sense of sanctuary. The choices in colour and texture, both inside and outside, are informed by the raw beauty of the coastline \u2013 as well as the aesthetic sensibility of the owner. At the heart of the open-plan living space is the unfussy kitchen. <\/p>\n
Piha house. Designer Chris Tate. Photo \/ Simon Devitt<\/p>\n
A narrow slot cuts through the ocean-facing front of the house, shielding the interior from environmental exposure while simultaneously framing views of surf, dunes and sky. It allows sunsets to be enjoyed over early evening cocktails and lingering dinners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe palette is restrained and tactile: charred timber, blackened steel and ceramics with a matt finish \u2013 all materials chosen for their durability and atmospheric depth,\u201d says Tate. <\/p>\n
Piha house. Designer Chris Tate. Photo \/ Simon Devitt<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether, they infuse the space with an intense stillness that feels grounded in Piha\u2019s rugged spirit.\u201d The dark and brooding presence of the beach house subverts the typical coastal vernacular and proposes an alternative: one that is introspective, tough, even confrontational \u2013 while still offering a haven of serenity and calm.<\/p>\n
The bach won the 2025 Trends International Design Awards NZ Designer New Home of the Year.<\/p>\n