b'pictures: Simon DevittArchitect Michael Fisher describes a bachhe has designed at Hahei in the Coromandelas a cantilevered pavilion set against the bush.Sitting high on a hill overlooking Hahei beach, the houseThesecurityaspectwasaddressedbycoveringthe is surrounded by native bush. Its exact location on theopenings into both the lounge and the outdoor dining property was predetermined by a small section and theareaonthehillsideofthehousewithlargesliding positionofanow-demolishedA-framehomeonthe Zincalume-cladpanelsovertheglazing.Whenthe same site.ownersareaway,thesearerolledintoplace,sealingIt was a tight site, says Michael. There was a neighbouroff the home. The outdoor dining area is effectively a hard on one side and it fell away steeply on the other. covered outdoor room, with a corrugated opaque screen We used the footprint of the previous house, which wasalong the neighbours side and a flat painted wall ondemolished to make way for the new structure. the other.Michaeldescribestheplanasverysimplealmost Eucalyptus timber decking stretches the length of the a rectangular box, divided over two levels. It has fourhouseattherear,facingintothebush.Corrugated double bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-planZincalume steel was chosen for the exterior and the roof kitchen,diningandlounge.Theupstairscoversanbecause of its low cost as well as its easy maintenance.area of 135 sqm while the downstairs spreads over aOne bathroom has been lined as a wet shower room and smaller 60 sqm.the other designed to contain a bath. Both feature rubber sheet flooring and rooflights that open up the rooms to The outdoor dining area the sky. is effectively a coveredoutdoor roomHis brief from the owners was to create a holiday home that flowed beautifully from indoors to outdoors, was maintenance-free,usedcost-effectivematerialsand, just as importantly, provided a high level of security. The design also needed to take advantage of the panoramic view out over Hahei beach and the islands beyond. The househadtoaccommodatelargenumbersofguests comfortably, but also function just as well for the couple and their family.| 45'