Come Together – Sandiland by Studio John Irving Architects

Amongst the dotted dunes of Te Arai, one of the world’s most coveted golfing destinations located on the coast just north of Auckland, Sandiland by Studio John Irving Architects is a luxury retreat that takes inspiration from the client’s generous, hospitable nature and the natural beauty of the surrounding environment. Balancing warmth and intimacy, privacy and comfort with the capacity to open up and connect with friends whenever the mood strikes, the holiday home is an ode to the joy of both company and seclusion.

With an extensive range of hospitality and residential projects in the area, architect John Irving was already attuned to the landscape and the needs of the local clients. “With new courses being built at Te Arai at the moment, we have designed the accommodation, clubhouse, restaurants, all things golf, as well as for many private clients and their homes – so it’s a very exciting time,” he says. While he explains that because “every client brings such different things to the table, you just never know what you will be designing next,”generally, the brief is for “holiday homes by the sea for people who also love golf, so the focus is on providing a backdrop for active relaxers and for entertaining.” Uniting each of his projects in the area is a desire to design in keeping with the undulating, windswept scenery and maximise the connection to the pristine beach at the doorstep.

The residence needed to perform on demand, with the capacity to open up for parties and hosting guests.

The spirit of this home – nicknamed Sandiland – reflects the client herself, Sandy. John says that as a person who is “full of life and a lot of fun, she wanted a home that was reflected her personality.” The brief given was a relaxed one, with a need for “intimate spaces, so she didn’t feel like she was rattling around,” as well as requiring “places that she could retreat into.” The residence needed to perform on demand, with the capacity to open up for parties and hosting guests. Overarching these two contrary requirements was the desire for a home with a somewhat idiosyncratic character to it. “She wanted the home to feel like a big hug,” says John.

The response is a residence comprised of five separate cedar rooms, or blocks, serving as private bedrooms and an art studio, as well as the more social, communal spaces like the kitchen and living areas. These are united under one roof, which seems to float rather than sit above the structures. “All the blocks are their own separate forms scattered about the place and linked by a glass gallery,” explains John. “The art studio block has broken free from the cluster as that needed to be a retreat from the rest of things.” The intent behind such separation of space is the freedom for occupants to choose between total privacy, with individual ocean outlooks and rejuvenating outdoor nooks, and social connection in areas that retain a sense of intimacy despite their airy openness. “I wanted the place to feel like a mini resort where you can retreat to your bedroom havens or come together in the social spaces,” he says.

In order to design an open kitchen fit for entertaining and in keeping with the luxury of simplicity that defines the overall aesthetic, Fisher & Paykel appliances with an emphasis on integration are featured throughout.

These social spaces are realised with dark tones and natural finishes, which counters the light-filled sense of exposure to the elements and the magnificent ocean views. Sliding doors blur the distinction between inside and out, making these rooms into adaptable spaces with the option for immediate outdoor connection. Glazing above cabinetry and door frames rises up to meet the roof, tricking the eye into thinking it may well be simply hovering overhead. A timber clad ceiling is a warm link between the indoor and outdoor entertaining areas, with the arrangement of perpendicular battens suggesting a delineation of the open space below. Variation in floor levels offer the communal space a cosier, step- down lounge area, whilst the kitchen remains open.

The generous square island bench and lack of scullery or butler’s pantry declare that the kitchen, too, is a space to socialise. This choice was also driven by a desire to “keep it simple,” says John. “It’s not a big house, so it is OK to have it all out in the open, but we also needed enough appliances, so things don’t pile up.” In order to design an open kitchen fit for entertaining and in keeping with the luxury of simplicity that defines the overall aesthetic, Fisher & Paykel appliances with an emphasis on integration are featured throughout. John explains that the “integrated appliances appeal because they fade into the background.” This fade is executed exactingly, from the ultra-minimal gaps facilitated by the appliances right down to the consonance between material finishes.

The Minimal range enables a sleek and elegant kitchen layout, without compromising on the high degree of performance and functionality required from appliances when hosting guests in such a setting.

Black-stained timber cabinetry frames two ovens for ease of use when entertaining. The same cabinetry cloaks an integrated French door refrigerator-freezer with a simple, beautifully crafted custom timber pull handle. John selected from Fisher & Paykel’s Minimal range according to his “usual approach to appliances – [being] to do our best to make them disappear.” The Minimal range enables a sleek and elegant kitchen layout, without compromising on the high degree of performance and functionality required from appliances when hosting guests in such a setting. Such is the case for the integrated dishwasher, integrated Single DishDrawer and integrated CoolDrawer, all which recede seamlessly into the scheme of the room. A black glass induction cooktop looks similarly fluid atop a black marble bench.

This seamless integration of Fisher & Paykel appliances, along with his overall approach to materiality at Sandiland, speak to John’s trademark “desire to keep the materials honest, simple and very robust.” The kitchen flows seamlessly from indoors to out, where an expansive silvered timber deck eventually gives way to rolling dunes. As with the interior, the deck is replete with intimate areas to gather, defined by varying levels. An outdoor fireplace and lounge setting is tucked around the corner from a sunken, circular fire pit. The luxurious attention to detail in this outdoor entertaining space is exemplified by the inclusion of the CoolDrawer in close proximity, which allows for chilled drinks and snacks to be brought forth at a moment’s notice, without the need for a noticeable bar fridge.

Though the social utility and undeniable fun of these spaces is clear, more subtle are the opportunities they might provide for solitary reflection whilst feeling enveloped by place rather than people. Finding luxury in the simple and the minimal, Sandiland is a pragmatic, entirely functional residence. It also shows the potential a home has to reflect its occupants – distinctive and enigmatic, welcoming and generous, adaptable and playful, with a compelling propensity for introspection, creativity and warmth.