Houzz Tour: Waiheke Island Cottage Makes the Most of Nature's Gifts
Nestled in the bush overlooking the ocean, this simple but beautiful timber holiday home has been designed to take in the views
Joanna Tovia
26 October 2014
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
When you want a retreat that allows you to truly take time out from daily life, it makes sense to build one in a location that allows you to immerse in nature. This is certainly true for this architectural gem on picturesque Waiheke Island, which lies almost 18 kilometres off the coast from Auckland. “It is a place to remind yourself of the richness that can be experienced in the simplest things in life,” says architect Charissa Snijders. “It’s a place where you can listen to the rain, the wind in the trees, birdsong and the stillness of the night.” Showcased below in its pre-furnished state to highlight its architectural prowess, the Treehouse, as it is lovingly known, plays on light and shade and its connection to both ocean and bushland is plain to see.
Find an architect in your area
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a holiday house for a busy professional and his family and friends
Location: Waiheke Island, off the North Island, New Zealand
Size: 96 square metres plus verandahs and deck areas (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and one main living space that opens onto an outdoor room)
Photographer: Peter Rees
Find an architect in your area
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a holiday house for a busy professional and his family and friends
Location: Waiheke Island, off the North Island, New Zealand
Size: 96 square metres plus verandahs and deck areas (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and one main living space that opens onto an outdoor room)
Photographer: Peter Rees
The Treehouse rests lightly on a tongue of land on Waiheke Island, sheltered by the native bush to the south. To the north are panoramic views over the sea to other islands.
“The brief was really simple,” says Snijders. “To design a place for family and friends, to celebrate the location with the sea views to one side and also be connected to the bush to the south side.”
Her client liked the simplicity of New Zealand’s signature pioneer cottages and trampers’ huts, and loved timber. “He asked for timber joinery, walls, floors and ceilings,” says Snijders. “He also wanted me to stay within budget!”
Having a realistic budget to start with certainly helped.
Her client liked the simplicity of New Zealand’s signature pioneer cottages and trampers’ huts, and loved timber. “He asked for timber joinery, walls, floors and ceilings,” says Snijders. “He also wanted me to stay within budget!”
Having a realistic budget to start with certainly helped.
The cottage contrasts plenty of warm timber with moments of stone and glass. Glass mosaic ‘Oil’ tiles (30mm x 30mm), from Artedomus, bridge the divide between the stainless steel and timber used in the kitchen. Sustainable rosewood has been used for the joinery in the kitchen and bathroom.
Oven and cooktop: Smeg; fridge and dish drawer: Fisher & Paykel; Cox mixer: Metrix
Oven and cooktop: Smeg; fridge and dish drawer: Fisher & Paykel; Cox mixer: Metrix
To help create the holiday/retreat feel Snijders used a simple palette of materials: salvaged matai (a native tree of NZ felled in the 1970s) and sustainable NZ farm totara for the wall sarking and bookcase in the hallway. Cedar was also used for the ceiling and plywood for some of the walls and large sliding doors in the hallway.
Both the hallway and entrance have a skylight screened by cedar battens to let in patterned light and to highlight the dark stained sliding doors. “We chose to use a black/brown stain to the plywood for these doors and other panel areas as a contrast to the natural wood,” Snijders says. “We took this colour from a leaf that was glossy and alive, but that beautiful rich black-brown.”
View more stylish hallways
Both the hallway and entrance have a skylight screened by cedar battens to let in patterned light and to highlight the dark stained sliding doors. “We chose to use a black/brown stain to the plywood for these doors and other panel areas as a contrast to the natural wood,” Snijders says. “We took this colour from a leaf that was glossy and alive, but that beautiful rich black-brown.”
View more stylish hallways
All finishes inside – for the floors, walls, ceilings and joinery – are natural products: WOCA Wood Floor Oil for the floor, Osmo Polyx-Oil for the joinery and hard-wearing surfaces, and Natural House Company Classic Danish Oil for the walls and ceilings.
Having a client who wasn’t involved in the day-to-day decisions of the project was the biggest project challenge for Snijders. Asked what she’s most proud of about the house, she says: “How everything works together to bring magic to the experience; from the smallest detail to the largest decisions, they all seamlessly shape the experience to help people relax and unwind.”
Pendant lighting: Secto Design
Working with South Pacific Timber, Snijders sourced a sustainable rosewood for the joinery and seats and used red cedar for the doors and windows.
The living room captures both the sea views and also cantilevers into the trees so that when you open the two sliding doors or go out onto the balcony you are among the treetops. “Keeping the same roof line but changing the dynamic of the space by exposing the rafters, the outdoor room opens up to the sea and horizon beyond,” Snijders says.
Snijders hid a pop-up TV in a living room window seat with a using a mount system that can swivel to face the room for easy viewing.
The indoor and outdoor fireplace hearths feature 80mm black granite stone tiles.
Riva Vison fireplace: Stovax
Riva Vison fireplace: Stovax
This house is just as special at night as it is during the day – the lighting has been carefully considered. In the living room, for example, a concealed shelf hides a DimSlim lighting system that has 12 different levels of light – from a very soft light to nearly daylight – that can illuminate the whole ceiling. “This is also carried through into the outdoor room which glows at night like a lantern,” Snijders says.
The bathroom started out with only a shower, but during construction the client requested that a bath also be added. Wanting to play with being on holiday and bathing outside, Snijders used a skylight over the width of the shower-bath area to bring the outside in. “The two sliding doors can be fully opened and you can either opt for privacy with the adjustable cedar louvres or be completely open to the views and outside,” she explains.
To help bring light into the bathroom, Snijders interrupted the cedar sarked verandah ceiling with cedar batten screening directly outside.
The cedar screening casts a wonderful play of light onto the floor and walls.
“The patterns of light are a constant delight; it’s an ever-changing kaleidoscope of patterns, texture and view shafts both day and night,” says Snijders.
Lavasca bath: Metrix; Dial Black BTW pan and soft-close toilet seat: Robertson Bathware
Lavasca bath: Metrix; Dial Black BTW pan and soft-close toilet seat: Robertson Bathware
Vola floor-mounted spout, Cox shower mixer, Paini showerhead with ceiling-mounted arm, Cox bath/shower diverter mixer and wall-mounted basin mixer: Metrix
“The one thing the client wanted was a hand basin from Two Rivers Gallery, an art gallery near Christchurch – this brought the material of stone into The Treehouse,” Snijders says. The basin inspired the dark grey stone tiles for the shower walls and above the basin, as well as the Atlantic honed granite used for the benchtop.
Snijders kept the environment in mind throughout the design and build. As well as bringing in sustainable, non-toxic materials/finishes, the cottage is fitted with a low-water usage toilet and taps, and has a small environmental footprint. Being on Waiheke means all stormwater is reused, plus a Biolytix wastewater system has been installed – it uses very little electricity and relies in part on the help of worms to decompose the waste.
Related Stories
Trade Shows
Building a Future: A Program For Change
By Houzz AU
Australia's leading construction, architecture and infrastructure show opens next week... we preview what's on offer
Full Story
Most Popular
Best of the Week: 28 Amazing Australian Homes
Building or renovating? Here's a smorgasbord of some of the incredible homes by Houzz pros to whet your appetite
Full Story
Stickybeak Of The Week
Stickybeak: A Controversial Welcome for a Contemporary Home
Meet the brave new home that breaks the rules, and read the story of how the design came to fruition
Full Story
Stickybeak Of The Week
Stickybeak of the Week: A Home Fit for Multi-Generational Guests
By Pia Sinha
Despite the challenge of an extensive brief, this new home meets every expectation, for family and visitors alike
Full Story
Kitchens
Room of the Week: Classic Colours Make a Contemporary Kitchen
Although designed to highlight the view to the wine room, this kitchen can't help but shine like a jewel
Full Story
Stickybeak Of The Week
Stickybeak of the Week: A Contemporary Family Home... on a Slope
By Pia Sinha
This modern East Fremantle home presented both build and design challenges. See the clever ways these were overcome
Full Story
Flooring
How Do I... Choose a Timber Floor?
Are you in the market for a new timber floor? Read our expert guide to choosing the perfect style to suit your needs
Full Story
Beach Homes
My Houzz: A Sophisticated Beach Shack for Laid-Back Entertaining
This semi-retired teacher and her husband have created a casual beachside haven for super-sized family get-togethers
Full Story
New Zealand Homes
Houzz Tour: Steampunk Style in the Suburbs
A daring duo throws caution to the wind to revamp their '80s Auckland home with flair
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Historic Home Meets Contemporary Open-Plan Living
A 1920s Melbourne house gets a harmonious modern extension
Full Story
thanks so much for your comment...it truly is a magical home
What a beautiful location to build your Ecco friendly house.
All the natural elements compliments its surroundings, love the bathroom and the gorgeous sink, not to mention the different use of reclaimed wood throughout. You certainly achieved what you set out to do.
Congratulations guys.
thank you for your lovely comments - much appreciated :)