Tours
Twin Airbnb tiny homes inspired by nature provide ideal living in coastal town
The way he built his homes to blend in so seamlessly with the surrounding environment is incredible. Not bad for an "old school surfer" dude.
Elijah Chan
07.22.22

What’s better than experiencing the “wild west coast” in a tiny house built for it?

Tauranga Bay, New Zealand is ironically well-known for not being so well-known. It is described as the “wild west coast” because of its unspoiled beauty.

YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House

The bay is dominated by outcropping rocks, wide beaches, and windswept plains that extend inland.

This gives you an amazing 360-degree view of your surroundings.

Perfect for a tiny home

Old school surfer Kevin and his wife took advantage of this with two tiny houses.

Looking for a way to make their retirement sustainable, Kevin used his experience in construction to build two tiny houses just a hundred meters from the bay’s beach.

YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House

In the wide open plains, their property stands out but blends in with the surroundings at the same time.

The two tiny houses are made with corrugated steel cases painted in almost a darker shade of pewter.

YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House

The structures are also wedge-shaped with the roof sloping down at only one angle.

Kevin explained that the design emulates the rocky outcrops that surround the beach.

An upcycler’s dream

The houses also use recycled and pre-loved materials.

The viewing decks and other woodwork are materials once thrown away and were given new life through the home.

YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House

The homes also come with a flush toilet and a large plastic water tank for a steady water supply. The place is a bit isolated so these comforts are very much welcome.

But it is not the only part of the house that’s well thought of.

The view of a lifetime

The smaller house lies perpendicular to the beach which makes the narrow part face the coast.

To maximize this feature, Kevin installed a wide window where the house’s design was centered.

He constructed an elevated living space by the window and to make the view accessible from the lower level, he used wires as guard rails instead of full dividers.

It gives the small space a feeling of spaciousness, especially when natural light generously fills the room.

The “bedroom” sits underneath this indoor terrace and has a queen-sized bed that you can roll out so fixing up the sheets won’t be difficult.

The tiny house is also equipped with a bathroom, shower, and kitchen.

The other house lies parallel to the beach.

To maximize this angle, Kevin installed an accordion-type sliding door. You can open the door fully to get an amazing view of the ocean.

YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - Living Big In A Tiny House

This house is larger than the other one since it’s designed for long-term guests.

The tiny house is equipped with a functioning kitchen, a bathroom, and a laundry area.

The larger house also comes with a balcony, which can be accessed through the small ladder right beside the bathroom door.

The couple rents them on Airbnb.

Kevin’s wife, Trish, said that Tauranga Bay is one of the most beautiful places on earth and it made them excited that they can share that beauty with other people via the rental service.

As for Kevin, he just wants to share why he loves Tauranga Bay so much, and the only way he could think of is to let people experience it firsthand.

And with the houses he just built, we know that people are going to line up for the experience.

Take the full breathtaking tour of these tiny homes in the video below!

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