Palm Springs House in Bay of Plenty: Courtyard, Pool, and Shade Eaves
Palm Springs House stands on Toronia Court in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, designed by Arkhé as a house composed around courtyard living and climate sense. The plan pulls into an L and opens to a private pool, while a warm timber entry cuts the restrained street face. Inside, a calm palette and timber underfoot underline the easy pace of the coastal setting.
Warm timber boards wrap a trapezoidal cut in the street elevation, signaling the entry with a quiet glow. Beyond, a still courtyard holds water and reflected light, pulling the day toward the house.
This house in the Bay of Plenty by Arkhé organizes daily life around context: sun, breeze, and a sheltered courtyard. It’s a rectilinear volume tuned to climate, with a restrained palette outside and warm finishes within. The throughline is simple—shape and orientation work together to keep comfort steady and energy low.
Shape the Courtyard
A rectangular extrusion loses a clean bite to form the courtyard and pool. That subtraction drives an L-shaped plan, placing garage and bedrooms to the south and drawing living rooms and the main bedroom along the northern edge. The result protects the heart from wind while holding sunlight deep into the day. It reads as measured and calm.
Orient Light and Air
Living rooms run on a north–south axis to capture cross-ventilation and steady daylight. Oversized eaves along the west temper summer gain and keep glass shaded when the sun bites hardest, while winter sun tracks under to warm finishes and air. The courtyard geometry tightens ventilation paths, so rooms breathe without fuss. Comfort lands without mechanical drama.
Envelope and Materials
Painted clay brick and thermally modified timber weatherboards build a durable shell with low embodied carbon in mind. Exposed Siberian larch adds grain and depth where touch matters, while high-performance glass wool insulation pairs with low‑e double glazing to lock in thermal gains. The exterior stays neutral and taut; joints and textures do the talking. Inside, warm whites, timber flooring, and sarking soften light and keep rooms quiet.
Edges for Daily Life
Generous decks on the east and west extend the living sequence and give options as the day turns. Morning coffee finds the eastern edge; late meals settle under a louvred outdoor room when the sun drops. A built-in seat tucks behind densely planted bamboo for cool shade and privacy. These edges stretch use across seasons.
Street to Threshold
A subdued rectilinear street face holds the line, then that trapezoidal timber-lined entry breaks the rhythm with warmth. It marks threshold without noise and pulls you inward toward the courtyard. The move adds relief to the elevation and a moment of pause in the walk home.
Late light slides across brick and timber, catching grain and joint in a soft rake. The courtyard water answers with a small shimmer, and the rooms settle. Climate guides the composition, and the house returns the favor with steady, unforced comfort.
Photography courtesy of Arkhé
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