Modern Bach
Inspired by relaxed Kiwi holidays at the beach, Modern Bach design style offers a contemporary take on traditional coastal design with laid-back spaces, modern minimalism and earthy, dark weatherboards.
The modern bach is a contemporary take on traditional coastal design. The style is inspired by the New Zealand way of life and beach bach history but modernised with an injection of sleek minimalism. Being harmonious with climate whilst connecting to the architectural history of the region is the benchmark for this architectural style.
Modern bach home design is defined by spaces that lend themselves to a laid-back, luxurious lifestyle where the lines between indoor and outdoor are blurred. These homes are foundationally open-plan beach house designs, and when combined with other simple elements, accentuate available space, creating homes where occupants feel free to move around. The layout is enveloped by large-span windows and wide entrances to capture the sunlight and beachside.
On the façade, the flexible roof styles range from a bold gable, flat roof or skillion roof to provide a designer look. Well chosen, generous windows can be enhanced with shading hoods or vertical screens to provide shading and enable the homeowner the freedom to express their own personal style and illuminate the landscaping from all angles of the home.
Earthy toned weatherboards combine with contemporary clean lines to marry minimalist and coastal design, amplifying a nostalgic ambience for carefree summer days. Interiors are light-filled and breezy, featuring lightweight furniture, natural textures and soft shades of green and blue.
About the Trend
Design Features
Flexible roof: A modern angular skillion roof, bold gable or flat roof style adds clean modernist lines to the façade and immediately evoke a contemporary kiwi and coastal architectural style.
Weatherboard exterior: The fresh façade typically features earthy, dark lightweight cladding such as weatherboards adding coastal charm without the constant maintenance of traditional timber.
Earthy colour palette: In NZ the coastal homes merge with their surrounds, and are sympathetic rather than standing out. Darker and more earthy tones are favoured creating a seamless transition between the house and the surrounding landscape.
Indoor outdoor connection: Interior and exterior spaces are seamlessly connected through sliding glass doors, louvers and screens creating an abundance of indoor-outdoor living areas, bringing the outside in.
Interiors: Pale timbers, bricks and hero white plaster create a sense of light and spaciousness inside with complementary natural textures and neutral coastal tones of soft greens and blue, whites, light greys, beach beiges and muted pastel tones evoke a fresh and airy coastal palette and create a sense of spaciousness and light.
Recommended products
Linea™ Weatherboard: The strong shadow lines of this weatherboard nods to a traditional weatherboard bach with a modern twist. Using with Linea™ Aluminium Corner Soakers differentiates from a more traditional look which has trim covering the corners.
Axon™ Panel Grooved: The flowing lines are ideal for creating modern coastal facades with a finish that’s visually sophisticated and dynamic.
Oblique™ Weatherboard: The narrower profile of 200mm, installed vertically combines well with other styles, providing a modern low maintenance design.
Stria™ Cladding: The distinctive deep grooved lines and can be laid horizontally or vertically for an eye-catching effect to complement horizontal weatherboards.
Options in select areas:
Hardie™ Groove Lining: Use for feature interior walls and ceilings and externally on eaves and soffits.
Why Now?
- Recent social, economic, political and environmental chaos has resulted in retreating and cocooning
- The Modern Bach design look is reflective of New Zealand’s nostalgic love of beach homes and the associated laid-back lifestyle
- Constantly evolving since its origins, the look is now less literal, tied in with contemporary design elements to suit modern, hybrid lifestyles
- Modern Bach design is perfect for homeowners looking for the relaxed, pared back living that a coastal-inspired contemporary home offers
An evolution of existing weatherboard styles, the modern coastal home has become one of the most popular housing styles in New Zealand and Australia in the last decade.
Recommended paint colours
Exterior
Dulux
Pūkaki Half NZ9B5
Pūkaki Half NZ9B5
Dulux
Rangitīkei River NZ9A9
Rangitīkei River NZ9A9
Dulux
Piha NZ10G1
Piha NZ10G1
Wattyl
Travel Nomad LRV 23.20
Travel Nomad LRV 23.20
Wattyl
Excalibur LRV 11
Excalibur LRV 11
Wattyl
Colorbond® Monument® LRV 8
Colorbond® Monument® LRV 8
Interior
Dulux
Ōkārito NZ9HR
Ōkārito NZ9HR
Dulux
Sandfly Point NZ9F3
Sandfly Point NZ9F3
Dulux
Te Horo
Te Horo
Wattyl
Calcium CW 3.3 | LRV 84
Calcium CW 3.3 | LRV 84
Wattyl
Driftwood CW 8.5 | LRV69.55
Driftwood CW 8.5 | LRV69.55
Wattyl
Blue Bungalow CW 93.4 | LRV42
Blue Bungalow CW 93.4 | LRV42
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Linea™ Weatherboard and Stria™ Cladding
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Feature case study
Modern Magic, Stria™ Cladding and Linea™ Weatherboard
Overlooking a river in North Auckland, this modernistic family home makes a bold statement against the verdant green of its rural setting.
The Design Handbook
BUILD YOUR MODERN LIFE
The Hardie™ Cladding Collection has a wide variety of products to select from, creating design versatility, in which It’s Possible™ to Make Modern like never before. It’s a movement that’s reshaping perceptions and changing the way New Zealand builds. This design handbook demonstrates that with great advice, support and inspiration, it’s possible to build a house you’re truly proud to come home to.
Where
To buy our products
Get
The James Hardie Product Guide
See
James Hardie's Modern Design Forecast