Titoki Beach House – A Coastal Home with Deep Roots

What began as a humble garage and summer sleepout has grown into Titoki — a thoughtful, deeply personal reimagining of a long-loved family retreat in Matarangi. For over 30 years, the original structure hosted countless holidays, with tents pitched across the lawn and memories made around shared meals and sun-soaked days.

When the family chose to expand and evolve the home, it was with care — weaving in the past while making space for future generations. The existing garage was retained and reclad, joined by two original cabins and a new main wing. At the centre, a sheltered deck now draws everything together, creating a space to gather, relax, and reconnect throughout the seasons.

The project is also a tribute, a way to honour the legacy of a much-loved father whose vision and presence shaped the original spirit of the home. “It’s where we made some of our best memories,” Renee shares. “In the midst of losing Dad, we realised how important this place still was to our family and how much we wanted to keep that legacy going.”

Materiality played a vital role in balancing durability with design. JSC Purpleheart Hardwood was selected for the exterior battens and privacy screens, not only for its natural strength in a coastal climate, but for its evolving beauty. “Josh had used Purpleheart timber before on a project in Napier and was really impressed with how it performed,” says Renee. “We were dealing with long spans and a lot of exposure to the elements, so we needed something stable and dense.”

Over time, the timber has mellowed beautifully. “We love how rich in colour it was when first installed and then softening over time to a silvery grey,” she says. “I think it gives a simple design and structure real depth and is the ultimate feature of the project.”

This build isn’t just a renovation. It’s a continuation of a story - built with love, grounded in memory, and designed to welcome new moments for years to come.