Nobody could accuse Brian Zuill of forgetting his roots. The beach house he built at Big Bay on the Awhitu Peninsula is just a stone's throw from where he grew up.
His father farmed there and his mother had the local store, so Brian spent his childhood kicking stones onthe winding metal roads and playing on the beach. Even when he left to go to school, he came home every weekend.
It's not surprising, then, that when he decided it was time for a beach house he chose a spot right on the water at Big Bay. "I'd been looking up North but I couldn't find a section that was right on the beach, and then this came up," he says.
"I think it hadn't been taken because it was an odd shape and people couldn't see how they could get a house on there." Brian had no such qualms and bought the section, which takes in beautiful views from Cornwallis to Mangere, One Tree Hill, the Waitakeres and the Sky Tower.
There's a wetland behind and an estuary alongside, so there are always ducks, herons, shags and other sea creatures for company.
He designed a smaller version of the house he had built in Manurewa, using a boomerang shape to fit it on to the land without losing the views. "I drew it up myself and then got a draughtsman to do the whole thing properly."
A single-level building, it sits unobtrusively between the sea and a backdrop of bush. The front lawn gives way to low tussock and then sand. The modern design and materials have resulted in a quality home that retains the essence of a beach house, and the space and floorplan are ideal for a permanent home. Three bedrooms, one with en suite, a bathroom and a big living area that opens to spacious, wraparound decks are all sited for sun and views.
After the house was finished, Brian decided to replace some of the ranchsliders with stackers to open the house even more, leaving only about 1.2m of wall when the stackers are open.
Other than that, he's been happy with the design although he points out that a family room above the garage might be a good idea.
Over the years, Brian and his partner Maxine have come to the beach house every second weekend, and during all the holidays. On summer weekends, boating and fishing are usually on the agenda although Brian confesses that the boat didn't make it into the water once this summer. "I just sat around and did nothing," he says. "And it was great."
Image 1 of 6: 284 Big Bay Rd, Awhitu.
However, if the weather is right a fishing trip is usually on the cards and he gets flounder, mullet and scallops. Because the property is right on the beach, accessing the water is no problem and there's room for the boat right beside the house.
After such a long association with the area, selling the beach house will be a wrench but Brian is past retirement age and he and Maxine are looking forward to a more flexible future.
"We'll be looking for an acre or so where we can have a nice garden and somewhere to potter around."
