Clarks Beach

A waterfront new build at Clarks Beach. 350m² of open-plan living built metres from the ocean.

Russell Swain

Architect

Clarks Beach, Auckland

Location

2 Years (During COVID)

Duration

Project Type

New Build

THE BRIEF

Some of the best projects start with the simplest briefs. For this Clarks Beach new build, the client's direction was clear: unobstructed ocean views, generous entertaining space, and a lodge-like warmth that felt at home on the water's edge. The rest, they trusted us with entirely.

As a returning client, they knew what JW Build Group was capable of. With the homeowner based overseas for the majority of the project, they handed over the keys (figuratively and literally) and let the team get on with it. That level of trust isn't something we take lightly.

Working in close collaboration with architect Russell Swain and interior designer Sarah Kerr, the vision took shape across two years, navigating Covid-era delays, supply chain disruptions, and one of the more technically demanding coastal build sites we had encountered.

THE CHALLENGE

Waterfront construction at Clarks Beach presented a complex set of conditions from the outset. The footprint was intricate, the ground beneath unstable, and the build site sat metres from the ocean, all factors that demand precise engineering and careful sequencing before a single wall goes up.

Building through the Covid period added another layer of complexity. Border closures, material shortages, and shifting site restrictions tested the programme at every stage. Maintaining momentum and the client's confidence from the other side of the world required clear, consistent communication throughout.

THE RESULT

The finished home is 350 square metres of considered design and careful craft. Open living spaces draw in the ocean views from every angle, the entertaining areas flow naturally inside and out, and the warm lodge-inspired interiors give the whole home a character that feels anything but generic.

It is the kind of new build that only works when the architect, interior designer, and builder are genuinely aligned. On this one, we were.

"This one required complete trust on both sides. Our client was overseas for the majority of the build and handed us the reins entirely. Delivering a home they were proud of, without them seeing it take shape in person, is something we're very proud of."

Founders Thoughts