Sun, Sand And Sea

When the Schofield’s purchased the property their vision was to modernise the building that begun it’s life as two units that were later converted into one home. The brief to Bill Dodds, architect, was to create a home which would take full advantage of the location, provide spacious entertaining facilities and guest accommodation and provide a secluded living space for their teenage son.  Like many seaside locations the site is exposed to the south easterly sea breezes and protection from the elements was crucial. The close proximity to neighbouring properties, that over looked the home, was also to be considered to allow private access to garage and utility areas.

“ The exterior of the home was in poor condition,” says Bill Dodds. “ Much of the wall cladding had to be replaced and the building was in desperate need of a roof replacement. The existing roof had endured years of salt air and repairs and was no longer weather proof.”

The redesign of the internal layout and decore of the home was only part of the project. Many aspects of the exterior required urgent attention. In particular the roof had taken a “hammering” and the years of patch-ups and repairs had taken their toll.

The Schofield’s sought advice from Metalcraft Roofing, Auckland.

The roof design is relatively basic however this belies a number of complexities that are inherent when choosing a suitable roofing product. The roof pitch is 10 degrees and whilst Metalcraft Corrugate or MC760 would have been suitable it was decided that MC760 would be more appropriate from the perspective of profile performance.

A wide range of material finishes were discussed but ultimately, in consultation with Metalcraft Roofing, Ray and Cherie settled on 0.55mm COLORSTEEL® MaxxTM Ivorie. Typically residential homes use 0.40mm however on this occasion 0.55mm was recommended. The primary reason was that the roof has easy access from the drive, the home is surrounded by Pohutukawa trees, which drop many leaves, and it is very visible from neighbouring properties and the drive way. This combination meant cleaning the roof was not only made easier but was also necessary, increasing the foot traffic and potential for damage. The heavier gauge made practical sense.

Upgrading the main entrance, which is at the rear of the house in relation to the beach, created a clearly defined and welcoming entrance way for the home. Internally, many changes were made to enhance the living spaces and take advantage of the views. The “state of the art” kitchen provides a central hub for entertaining and flows naturally to the open areas of the dinning room and lounge.

The open plan area creates a feeling of light and space with direct access to the beach and views of the Hauraki Gulf. The blurring of indoor /outdoor space provides an enchanting private area for either relaxation or entertaining guests. The main lounge and dining areas highlight the design flexibility achieved by using longrun metal roofing that is lightweight, providing the strength and span required. The importance of this attribute contributes to the overall success of the final open plan layout and design. On the upper level some structural changes have been made to accommodate the new entrance and to include an ensuite to the master bedroom. A centralised gas fire place was also installed to efficiently heat the upper level.

Alterations were also made to the downstairs living area, which also included the upgrade of the existing stairwell. A glass balastrade creates a unique feature connecting the upstairs and downstairs living areas. The living space downstairs has been renovated with a self-contained kitchenette, lounge, theatre and IT facilities.

With careful consideration, colour, materials and decore Ray and Cherie Schofield have illustrated the potential to breathe new life into a seaside property.