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Whaitere — Te Arai

Whaitere among the dune grass at sunset
Architect
Ponting Fitzgerald Architects
Location
Te Arai, Northland
Build
Oli Tuck
Film & Photography
The Project Portfolio

01The Site

Scattered like shells on the coast.

At Te Arai, north of Auckland, the coastline still carries the rawness of a landscape that hasn't been overly handled — wind-shaped dunes, pines leaning toward the sea, and the green ribbon of fairway curling through. Into this setting, Ponting Fitzgerald Architects was asked to design a holiday home less like a typical residence and more like an artifact discovered within the terrain.

The house sits at the southern edge of Te Arai Links, where sweeping views take in the dunes, the fairway, the ocean and distant islands — golfers moving through the scenery as part of the everyday theatre of the place.

Whaitere — film by The Project Portfolio
Board-formed concrete and a chair by the ocean
Board-formed concrete, ocean beyond
Whaitere seen across the fairway
Across the fairway — roof forms fanning toward the coast

02Inside Out

A house designed from the inside out.

Rather than beginning with a striking external form, the house was shaped by the moments the family hoped to have in it. What emerged is a scattering of stones and shells in the sand — roof forms radiating toward the coast, each spine directing a space toward its own view.

Entry is deliberately compressed: a narrow gap between board-formed concrete and cedar, offering only a glimpse of water. Then, step by step, the building releases — floors lift, ceilings rise, and unexpected angles open to the horizon and the sky.

Bedroom looking into the dunes
The sleeping wing looks into the dunes
Kitchen island at golden hour
The kitchen at golden hour
Kitchen with stone island and coastal view
Stone, cedar and steel — the kitchen
Sunrise seen from the deck
First light — the deck opens to the horizon
In their words
“Embracing the triangular element allowed the house to be whatever it wanted to be.”

David PontingPonting Fitzgerald Architects

Aerial view of Whaitere's roof forms
From above — 'Whaitere', the enchanted stingray
Living room facing the sea
The living room settles toward the sea
Pool terrace at dusk
The pool terrace at dusk
Sourcebook

The products behind the project

Every material and product in this home is documented on ArchiPro. Tap through to specifications, suppliers and lead times.

The approach to Whaitere through new dune planting
The approach — forms scattered among new dune planting
Dining table on the deck overlooking the fairway
The fairway — an ever-changing foreground
Whaitere at nightfall
Nightfall at Te Arai

Bring this team to your project

  • ArchitectPonting Fitzgerald Architects
  • BuildOli Tuck
  • Film & PhotographyThe Project Portfolio
  • BathroomwarePlumbline
  • AcousticsAutex Acoustics
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