Bunker House is What Darth Vader’s Beach House Might Look Like

Photo credit: Home of Architecture | Chris Tate
Piha Beach stretches along New Zealand’s wild west coast where black sand meets pounding surf and sheer cliffs rise without warning. Chris Tate placed Bunker House, a compact two-bedroom home right there next to a public car park and surf lifesaving club. The structure rises as a solid black form that feels carved from the landscape itself.

Chris Tate spent a remarkable 7 years perfecting the design before construction began, and the entire build took 14 years. The foundation is effectively a gigantic X built of concrete, with half of it sinking 3 metres into the sand and the other half supporting the house. The piles of concrete that hold it all together are a true insurance policy against earthquakes that turn the ground into a watery mess, as well as keeping the entire structure stable. You’d never guess it’s only 300mm off the sand, but against all odds, the entire structure holds the full weight of the house without even a hairline fracture showing. The cantilevered sections protrude out slightly, giving the box a ‘hovers-over-the-sand’ appearance while being perfectly balanced.

The cladding has been coated in sheets manufactured from recyclable cans shipped over from Canada and painted on-site, of course. The finish catches the light in an amazing ballet of patterns, perfectly reflecting the volcanic rock and black sand all around. With a little distance between you and the home, the surface appears to be one large textured skin. When you get close, it becomes easy to see where the material came from, but it all blends in so well that you can’t help but think that this house grew straight out of the sand rather than being thrown down on it.

When people arrive, they are instantly met with darkness. It takes a while for their eyes to pick out the layered blackness that appears to be draped over every inch of the place, but even in the absence of color, there are hints of depth and texture, as evidenced by the subtle changes in tone that suggest the presence of glass, steel, and stone, all fitted together with meticulous care to conceal all the messy bits, such as pipes and wires. It’s a highly efficient space that meets all of the passive house standards, so the temperature stays just right throughout the year.

The kitchen island is a real showpiece, stretching out for four meters and providing a perfect view of the shore. Its raw steel frame is attached directly to the floor, reflecting the house’s foundations. What a view: a long narrow strip of glass frames a beautiful slice of crashing waves, Lion Rock, and a distant cove, and the crowded car lot fades away as you take a few steps back.

Two identical small bedrooms are nestled away at the back of the house, each enclosed by a wall of gold mesh panels that give off a nice gentle glow and provide a bit of metallic sheen to the entire space. The light streaming through makes each area feel quite secluded and calm. It’s a truly fantastic space, as it’s similar to a cave yet can still open up to the ocean anytime the owners desire. When the lights go off at night, all you hear is the waves smashing outside.
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