Castle Rock Beach House in New Zealand

A beach house in Whangarei Heads, New Zealand, the Castle Rock House was designed by Herbst Architects. Built into the slope of the hillside, the holiday home is slightly elevated above the ground, resulting in an airy look. Additionally, the black timber cladding and natural wooden slats let the breeze into the interior. Inside, the two-level construction is revealed to be arranged in a pinwheel plan. The four distinct spaces allow for unique experiences of the architecture and surrounding seaside knoll. In one corner, there is a wood-lined library with built-in shelves and pipe stove, for instance. In another, there is an outdoor dining terrace with a view of the kitchen through the sliding glass doors. Providing many fluid connections among the rooms and the outdoors, this summery design is an ideal seasonal retreat.