Omata Beach House by Herbst Architects is the winner of the 2023 Sir Ian Athfield Award for Housing.

This Named Award represents Aotearoa New Zealand's highest tier of architectural achievement. Find out more: https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/nameda...

The jury citation notes:
"This is a beautiful house, carefully sited amongst established pōhutukawa, and approachable from all sides; a house in the round. There is a striking contrast between the openness and operability of the living zones of the house, and the warmth and enclosure of the bedroom wing, which is enhanced by the spatial choices and material selections in each area. Although this is a large house in totality, the relatively modest scale of the rooms and courtyard spaces ensures a feeling of domesticity and easy inhabitation. This is a house where every aspect, at every scale, is considered in minute detail, including the curved belly ceiling in the living spaces, the rich timbered interior of the bedroom wing, and the operable exterior cabinetry which hides a barbecue and a firewood pile. The architects clearly have a strong affinity for materials, how they go together, and how things work and — perhaps most importantly — what that feels like for the people who occupy those spaces."

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