Herbst Architects | Auckland Barrier Reef Seaview Villas

In the rugged landscape, the gentle gray linear form of Awana Beach House appears wedged between land and sea. Through a deep connection to the site and conditions unique to the Great Barrier Reef, Herbst Architects has created a pious complement to the terrain.

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This thoughtful plan is the result of the practice's founders, Nicola and Lance Herbst, spent years improving their craft on Aeota, known as the Great Barrier Island or Maori. Located 90 km east of Auckland, the Great Barrier Reef is the outermost island of Horaki Bay. It is mostly undeveloped, with a permanent population of about 1,000 people, with the highest number in the summer months. Living there is an idyllic simplicity; there is no electricity on the island, the inhabitants rely on solar and wind energy, and rainwater is collected in cisterns. Parts of the Great Barrier Reef may also be affected by inclement weather. While the western side of the island offers a haven, you can find the eastern side of Awana Beach facing the relentless winds from the Pacific Ocean.

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Two-thirds of the land on the island is public land and managed by the Department of Environmental Protection, the house sits on a rare private property on the waterfront. A small house was originally built on the site in the 1970s, which caused strong protests from the local community. To prevent any further development, the Department of Conservation acquired the remaining sites. As it is the only development along the beach, Herbst Architects designed the structure of Awana Beach House to reflect the surrounding environment, making it a private resort in the summer, while also acknowledging its year-round solitary public presence.

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Awana's two straight-shaped housings are movable wooden screens, a common element in many of Herbst's projects. Screens when turned off can protect the house from the effects of the surrounding environment, but when turned on, they allow residents to interact with the environment. In Awana beachfront villas, these screens are not only used to relieve strong winds, but have become part of the whole scheme.

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