Nestled comfortable in the native bush that surrounds it, this new holiday home in Abel Tasman National Park is subtle and understated, appearing as though it has always been there. This is, in part, due to it being built on the footprint of an older bach but it is also largely due to its cladding.

Wrapped in COLORSTEEL in a classic corrugated profile, the house takes on the essence of a rural structure and the warm natural richness of the FlaxPod colour helps to absorb the building into the bush setting. "The idea was to keep it quite informal as it is a beach house," says architect Simon Hall of Jerram Tocker Barron Architects. "We kept it simple with the cladding and the profile choice for that reason. Also, the existing bach had metal cladding, so it’s a nod to that older building." The choice of COLORSTEEL offers a low-maintenance cladding option that will look good for years to come.

The house steps up the steep site with a roofline that reflects the slope of the hill and is directed towards the north, rather than the east where it would have overlooked other houses. "We had to be very mindful and sensitive of the existing environment and integrate the building into the existing typography, which has houses at 1.5-storeys high," says Hall. "It’s a steep gully with limited access to sunlight so we punched quite a few holes in the roof for skylights and provided a large north-facing window."

Like a true Kiwi bach, the house favours outdoor living, with a large louvre-topped deck complete with outdoor dining area, and an outdoor shower to rinse off after swimming and watersports. The interiors are clad in whitewashed radiata pine plywood, giving a warm and light flavour to the cosy spaces inside.

From the upper-level mezzanine bedroom floor, views of Tasman Bay are resplendent. Space is used cleverly, with utilities tucked under the stairs. With much of the landscaping provided by Mother Nature and easy-care materials specified, this is an exceptionally low-maintenance holiday home that allows for true relaxation in this special part of the world.