NZ Storm Cottage by Fearon Hay

Things have been really busy lately and I wouldn't mind running away to this little seaside cottage for a week.  it'd be very OK with me if the weather turns to shit.

The Storm Cottage is located on New Zealand's remote Great Barrier Island and is completely off grid. By NZ's Fearon Hay Architects.

Beach Bach of my dreams...

This award-winning bach up in Whangapoua was designed by NZ architects Crosson Clarke Carnachan. The front concertinas vertically, letting the house open out to the beach through those two-storey-tall glass windows/doors.  Let's pretend we own it and I'll meet you there for a weekend of salt-spray windy walks and mulled wine in front of the fire. Not in a romantic way.

The new old Imperial

Inspired by great venues in Melbourne and New York, two century-old cinemas - neglected and abandoned for over 40 years - have been transformed into one of Auckland's first shared-space hospitality precincts. Amongst the Imperial Building's exposed brick, black steel, industrial lighting and a general 19th century warehouse feel you'll find Everybody's, patisserie-by-day-tapas-bar-by-night Imperial Lane and Roxy. Architecture Now (where most of these pictures, taken by Patrick Reynolds, are from) have a really interesting story on the building's recent development, here.

To see some more beautiful photos of the rest of the building, clickeroo.

This is someone's Kiwi beach bach.

Butler Beach House by New Zealand's Herbst Architects. Images by NZ architectural photographer Patrick Reynolds (who is a bit of a thinking woman's crumpet, just quietly).