THREE OF A KIND
At Bream Tail Farm on the Northland coast, three architecturally distinct structures sit quietly in the landscape, each feeling both of their place and entirely their own.
Photos Jamie Cobel
The buildings reveal themselves one by one against the coastal hillside as it becomes clear that something considered and cohesive has been created here. Three structures, each with a distinct character, material, and purpose, yet bound together by a shared sensibility: raw materiality, deliberate restraint, and an understanding of how architecture can belong to a place rather than impose upon it.
The main residence is the boldest statement of the three. Built from precast concrete and finished with a red roof that nods directly to an old woolshed, it commands its position in the landscape with quiet authority. Inside, the rawness of the material is carried through with intention. A precast concrete fireplace anchors the living space, polished concrete floors run underfoot, and a built-in curved dining nook provides a sculptural focal point that is as functional as it is beautiful. Upstairs, the entire upper level is given over to a single bedroom suite: a standalone bath, dressing room, and ensuite that bring a genuine sense of luxury to what is, at its core, a raw and honest building.
Tucked behind the outdoor fireplace, the guest house takes a different approach. Clad in dark-stained Accoya timber, it disappears quietly into the native planting and hillside behind it, offering a private and inviting retreat. Inside, two separate bedroom wings open onto a shared bathroom where deep green tiles and matte black fixtures create a mood that feels both intimate and atmospheric. Each bedroom has its own built-in bench seat and integrated storage, blending comfort and functionality.
The third building is perhaps the most surprising. Clad in corten steel that has weathered to a rich, burnished rust, it reads from a distance as a working farm shed – another deliberate echo of the agricultural landscape it sits within. Step inside, however, and the character shifts entirely. Warm timber lining creates a cosy atmosphere within a flexible space featuring a built-in bar, a loft bed above a compact bathroom for overflow guests, and dedicated storage for surfboards – functioning as easily as an adult games room as it does a working garage. Capturing sweeping views of the ocean, an outdoor spa and sauna are hidden around the corner, completing what is a fully realised entertaining destination.
Built by Broswick Builders and designed by the late Pip Cheshire of Cheshire Architects, the project is a testament to what becomes possible when architecture, craft, and landscape work in genuine conversation with one another. It is, by any measure, a fitting final chapter in the career of one of New Zealand's most respected architects.
What has been achieved at Bream Tail Farm is a legacy – three buildings that stand on their own while making each other better for being nearby.
www.broswickbuilders.co.nz | 021 745 999
