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New Zealand Home & Building, October-November 1998

Ship Shape — A Seafront Guest House Offers Auckland Architect Simon Carnachan the Chance to Indulge in Some Nautical Whimsy

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Ship Shape
A Seafront Guest House Offers Auckland Architect Simon Carnachan the Chance to Indulge in Some Nautical Whimsy.

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The prow-shaped deck offers the perfect vantage point to observe the America's Cup.

The prow-shaped deck offers the perfect vantage point to observe the America's Cup.

Aluminium joinery was chosen for its ability to weather the harsh coastal environment.

Aluminium joinery was chosen for its ability to weather the harsh coastal environment.

Architect Simon Carnachan is a firm believer that you don't need a lot of space to live well.

Though the homes he designs are generally substantial, his personal preference is for a living environment on a modest scale.

Imagine his delight, then, when asked to design a diminutive guest house for an Auckland couple that could serve as temporary accommodation while their new home, also designed by him, was built next door.

With a site fronting a seaside promenade, the opportunity was presented to indulge in some nautical whimsy. On a trip to the US, the owners had admired the architecture around Cape Cod and so the idea of a Nantucket-style boathouse was born. "What I really enjoy is that it's a bit of fun and people genuinely like it," says Carnachan.

The building has been christened "the yacht club" by local residents and the boathouse theme is carried through in every detail. Portholes puncture two cedar garage doors and a flag-pole rises from a prow-shaped deck enclosed by stainless steel railings - "we were under budget until we put those on," the owner laughs.

The immaculately detailed interior features a white painted tongue and groove ceiling, and kwila flooring inlaid with oak inpage break
A Fritz Hansen dining table and chairs complement the nautical look of the interior.

A Fritz Hansen dining table and chairs complement the nautical look of the interior.

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Clever touches such as a large mirror above the ensuite vanity enlarge the sense of space.

Clever touches such as a large mirror above the ensuite vanity enlarge the sense of space.

Wardrobe space is provided behind the bed. The blue and white striped bedlinen is from Country Road Homewear.

Wardrobe space is provided behind the bed. The blue and white striped bedlinen is from Country Road Homewear.

the pattern of ship's decking. An antique Baltic pine sea chest, inherited from the grandfather of the woman owner, has been restored and now serves as a coffee table, surrounded by four armchairs upholstered in a jaunty navy and white nautical stripe. While the owner says she originally envisaged a sofa in the space, Robyn Carnachan, who worked on many of the finishing details, persuaded her that the armchairs would provide equal comfort without the same visual weight. Around the walls, various pieces of maritime memorabilia - a tide clock, brass binoculars and an antique compass - complete the nautical look.

In order to make what is essentially two small rooms serve initially as a fully-functioning home, a lot of thought went into the practical details. In the upstairs living space, open shelves were carefully proportioned to accommodate a television and stereo, for example, while the compact kitchen was designed to fit an oven, dishwasher, fridge and microwave. Downstairs, a full-sized wardrobe is effectively concealed in a narrow space behind the bed and a tiny ensuite bathroom slots between the bedroom and stairs.

With bi-folding doors opened to the deck, the living area effectively doubles in size. But thanks to the generous harbour views on three sides, even with the hatches battened in a storm the compact interior manages to feel surprisingly spacious.

"We thought we'd be living on takeaways," says the owner. "But we've had plenty of dinner parties." In fact, after almost a year living in tight quarters, they can't quite imagine having 200m2 of space to play with in their new home. HB

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