You disengage the moment you arrive at Chain Mail. Everywhere you go, you are staring at the ocean. There is no (physical or psychological) block in your way. Multiple outdoor entertainment areas allow for all day entertainment, basking in the sun and view – whether you’re at the bottom, top, front or back of the home. The open light stairwell connects the upper and lower living whilst providing two very distinct spaces. Living, Kitchen, Indoor and Outdoor Dining and the Master Bedroom upstairs makes disconnecting from the world (and the kids) easily accessible. In turn, the kids have their own private existence downstairs.
The Master Bedroom and Bathroom needed to be truly private and given Stewart is on one of the busiest roads in Mount Maunganui, it was an exciting challenge. The solution? The left corner of the home was wrapped in chain mail (Kaynemaile) armour, shielding it from the world with no restrictions to the view or the outlook. Also like a blanket, the exaggerated roof cantilever wraps the outdoor living area, providing security from the elements and other distractions. Chain Mail is a welcome change to New Zealand’s coastal vernacular.