Tidal treasure

Creating solutions is builder Mike Imre’s superpower. That’s why the owner chose him and his team to craft a boathouse below a steep cliff in Herne Bay, Auckland. “It involved a lot of problem solving. For a start, getting materials to the site was difficult,” says Mike. The crew created a chute from the top of the bluff to the bottom to deliver materials and used barges to approach from the sea. “We would have three to five hours up our sleeves until the tide came up and we had to stop,” he explains. “We created a suspended floor to work from and we were always improvising.

In the end, the team succeeded, producing a boathouse that looks like a sail and feels like a classic yacht. Details from architect Michael Cooper’s plans are beautifully ornate with sharp design work. The build features Meranti marine plywood, stainless steel, aluminium, and purpleheart hardwood decking to ensure the structure’s rugged beauty will withstand decades of saltwater spray.

The homeowner says the custom design is tall enough to store a Laser dinghy with its mast extended. The elegant shed also includes an office on the mezzanine. “I’m in here every day, which stretches its usage well beyond a container building,” he says. Mike and his crew also replaced a rickety staircase leading from the top of the cliff to the bottom with solid, one-metre-wide stairs. Specialised equipment was used to drill deep into the cliff before steps were anchored with steel and concrete.

The boathouse works well and looks great, says the homeowner. “We have fantastic views over the Waitematā Harbour. Because of the 65-foot cliff, we were separated from the water. Now we have access. It’s almost like having a private beach. Mike and his team have absolutely delivered what we wanted, and we are looking forward to our first full summer with it.

Location: Herne Bay | Auckland

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