19 Breezy Bachs That’ll Have You Running to the Beach
Welcome to Beach Week, our annual celebration of the best place on Earth.
Now that summer is here, we’ve got sun, surf, and beach shacks on the mind—and one of our favorite typologies is the humble New Zealand bach (pronounced "batch"). These coastal getaways are traditionally unpretentious, unfussy, and designed to conjure up a summertime state of mind. The dwellings below hail from New Zealand and beyond—from a classic bach on a sandy beach to a secluded prefab on a cliff—and they privilege indoor/outdoor living, craftsmanship, and natural, durable materials.
1. Bowden House
This curved bach by Belinda George Architects has more covered deck space than interior living space, so it captures the feeling of living in the landscape. The pavilion-style retreat is divided into three separate parts joined by a shingled roof that drapes over the entire home. It has a living wing, with a kitchen, dining, and living room; a sleeping wing with three bedrooms and bathrooms; and a utility room. These are connected by a covered courtyard that George describes as an "in-between space." Crafted almost entirely from cedar, the home blends seamlessly with the surrounding bush.
Traditional Pacific fales (thatched huts) and whares (Māori houses) inspired this A-frame bach by RTA Studio that appears as a floating prism. The compact, off-grid home features a communal living space on the ground floor, and three bedrooms in the attic, each with views of the ocean or the bush. Thanks to the sloping site, the residents are even able to store a boat beneath the floorboards.
This three-bedroom holiday home on Waiheke Island by MacKay Curtis is designed to maximize sun, views, and opportunities for outdoor living. The ground-floor living area is enclosed with glass, while the bedrooms and bathrooms are housed in a timber-clad box. Sliding glass doors open the living area to the deck, which overlooks Mawhitipana Bay.
This clever take on a bach by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects sits atop two solid timber sleds that allow the beach house to be relocated as needed to cope with erosion of the site. The 430-square-foot retreat is located on the idyllic Coromandel Peninsula and sleeps a family of five. The textured macrocarpa cladding blends into the surrounding landscape, and it protects the home from the often harsh coastal environment.
While designing the Dune House, Herbst Architects drew inspiration from a nearby dunescape that undulates towards an impressive expanse of beach. The compact two-bedroom home is laid out with sleeping pavilions at either end of an open living space. The simple rectilinear form is clad in a timber rainscreen with a strong horizontal line at the top edge that echoes the horizon line, and a gently curving lower edge that mirrors the surrounding dunes.
This tiny home by Strachan Group Architects is nestled on a gently sloping coastal site in Coromandel, surrounded by an ancient forest of mature pōhutukawa trees and dramatic coastal views. The hut—essentially a simple timber box with a mezzanine sleeping platform—was constructed off-site on a house trailer and then towed to the site and set upon a simple foundation. Operable shutters and canopies allow the box to open and close in response to the weather, allowing residents to immerse themselves in the coastal landscape.
This monolithic bach on the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula by Bull O’Sullivan Architects features a zinc facade that acts as a robust armor to protect against the harsh seaside environment. Inside this impressive shell is a softly layered interior that opens to a protected courtyard for living and dining. The home is topped with a gloriette that invites precious moments of solitude overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Set in a bush-clad gully near Honeymoon Bay in Abel Tasman National Park, this contemporary bach is built with materials and finishes that can cope with the day-to-day rigors of bush and beach life—think steel and powder-coated aluminum joinery, laminated veneer lumber columns, and whitewashed timber. The bach also features a central deck with operable louvers that extends the covered living area outside.
This off-grid bach by Herbst Architects is located on a remote island 62 miles from the coast of Auckland. It’s divided into two pavilions connected by a walkway that is open to the elements—hence its name, Inside-Out Bach. The heart of the small home is a covered deck with an outdoor fireplace. The space is enclosed on three sides, and sliding screens on the fourth side can be adjusted to block the wind.
Fed up with flashy, environmentally insensitive beach homes, architect Gerald Parsonson and his wife, Kate, designed a humble hideaway nestled behind sand dunes along the New Zealand coastline. Crafted in the image of a modest Kiwi bach, their 1,670-square-foot retreat consists of a group of small buildings clad in black-stained pine weatherboards and fiber-cement sheets.
After finding paradise on a Hawaiian papaya farm, filmmaker Jess Bianchi and jewelry designer Malia Grace Mau tapped San Francisco artist Jay Nelson and a team from the Outer Sunset to design and build their dream home in just five weeks. Located just one block from the beach, the home takes inspiration from laid-back surf shacks and is primarily built with reclaimed wood.
To take in views of Victoria’s coastline from all directions, Austin Maynard Architects crafted a bach-inspired beach house using a circular, corridor-free design and full-height glazing. Exposed trusses and a simple material palette keep focus on the outdoors, while rooftop solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system help reduce the dwelling’s impact.
Designed for off-grid functionality out of necessity, the self-sufficient bach that Herbst Architects designed for their friend is a stellar getaway on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island. Clad in cedar, the modestly sized dwelling embraces outdoor living and views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Casey Brown Architecture designed the Hart House, a contemporary update to a one-room Australian beach shack that overlooks Great Mackerel Beach. The contemporary home mimics the shack vernacular with a simple, boxy construction that’s wrapped in a protective shell of corrugated metal.
For their escape from bustling San Francisco, architect Craig Steely and his wife, Cathy, created a getaway on a lava field next to a black sand beach on Hawaii’s Big Island. Fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ocean, the steel-framed home is one of several dwellings that Steely built in the area.
Built to go off the grid, this remote beachside cottage can open up completely to the outdoors with its series of movable glass panels and screens. Designed by Herbst Architects, the modest New Zealand bach comprises two rectangular pavilions built primarily with natural materials chosen for their durability, texture, and weathering characteristics.
In Lorne, Victoria, Austin Maynard Architects revamped an old shack near the beach with a timber extension that allows for elevated sea views. With interiors lined in recycled Silvertop Ash, the house exudes a cozy, cabin-like feel.
Completed in just six weeks by Australian practice Archiblox, this modest prefab home is perched atop a cliff with prime views of Avalon Beach, just a short drive from Sydney. Oriented east to west to maximize cross ventilation, the house is clad in marine-grade Colorbond Ultra steel and Queensland blue gum timber to protect against the elements.
A crooked little fisherman cottage received a new lease on life thanks to Jamie Kwong and his wife, Ingrid, who renovated the dwelling with recycled and repurposed materials wherever possible. Located across the bay from Australia’s Palm Beach, the Little Black Shack can be booked for your next dream vacation.
Related Reading: 10 Superb Surf Shacks
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