A relaxing space for its owner, this Taieri Mouth crib is also destined to be a focal point for family in years to come.
Perched on a sand dune and surrounded by fishing huts sits this modern interpretation of a Taieri Mouth crib.
When Dunedin architect Regan Johnston designed the building for himself, he wanted it to be simple and cost-effective to construct but most importantly, appropriate for the surroundings.
The fishing village lies at the mouth of the Taieri River and many of the cribs there are influenced by function, affordability and DIY construction, he says.
Often that has involved building additions and the reuse of materials.
Like its neighbours, which have been added to over the years, the new crib can also grow with future generations.
At present it is 90sq m but in the future another wing connecting at the kitchen could be added to one side to provide additional living space, bedrooms or a studio.
The building has a living area, bathroom and kitchen on the ground floor with two bedrooms, one also serving as a work area on a mezzanine above.
The simple gable form not only creates an economical building envelope with a footprint of 55sq m able to be completed in eight weeks but also a double-height glazed living area.
This volume dramatically increases the apparent size and quality of the space, which is shared by the main bedroom on the mezzanine.
Both offer views over Moturata Island and across the coast to the lights of Dunedin.
The exterior is clad in cedar while the ceiling and interior walls are plywood and the floor is heart rimu.
Plywood provides all the structural support and bracing, with 6m plywood box beams replacing the need for any steel-work apart from the gable cross-braces.
The materials have been left to take on the patina of age.
The recycled flooring from a Canterbury hall is oiled only, while interior plywood walls and ceiling linings have been left natural and are sealed only in moisture-sensitive areas.
Ceilings and walls are heavily insulated.
Heating is provided by a wood stove capable of creating a ''sauna-like experience'' in winter and supplemented by a heatpump for convenience, while two windows in the roof open up to allow the house to ''breathe''.
Rainwater is harvested from the roof and gas is used for cooking, also providing hot water on demand.
The fact the crib was to be used intermittently influenced energy choices, says Johnston, a director of Mason and Wales Architects.
But actually he had spent most of his time there, the coastal living and warmer climate more than compensating for the 30-minute drive time to and from Dunedin.
With the entire house built out of timber, every surface is warm and tactile and the atmosphere relaxing.
In fact, judges viewing the house for the 2013 Southern Architecture Awards said it felt so comfortable they did not want to leave.
Naming the crib a winner in the ''small project'' category, the jury said its simple gabled form and natural materials were honest, straightforward and robust, and its rawness was its charm.
''The sustainability of the project is unquestionable - there was no waste in design, construction or build time.
"The modest bach is at once stimulating and restful, uplifting and inspiring. If it were a poem, the building would be a haiku.''
