Coastal & Retreat Homes in Christchurch
Choice Architecture is a Christchurch-based architectural designer specialising in coastal and retreat architecture. We design bespoke residential homes that respond to landscape, exposure, and the experience of living in more remote or environmentally sensitive locations.
Our work focuses on creating calm, durable architecture that sits lightly within coastal and natural settings while embracing outlook, light, and connection to place.
Coastal Architecture
Designing for coastal environments requires a careful balance between openness and protection. Sites are often exposed to wind, salt air, and changing conditions, while also offering some of the most expansive and compelling views.
Our approach to coastal architecture is to create homes that frame the landscape while providing shelter and durability. Openings are carefully considered, materials are selected for longevity, and the building form is shaped to respond to both exposure and outlook.
Each project is approached as bespoke architecture, shaped by the specific conditions of its coastal setting.
Retreat Homes
Retreat homes are often located in more remote or elevated environments, where the relationship between architecture and landscape becomes more pronounced.
These homes are designed as places of retreat — calm, grounded, and connected to their surroundings. The focus is on simplicity of form, clarity of space, and a strong relationship to views, light, and seasonal change.
Whether a permanent residence or a secondary home, the architecture is shaped to support a slower, more considered way of living.
Responding to Landscape and Exposure
Coastal and retreat sites require a deliberate response to environmental conditions.
Key considerations include:
- Protection from prevailing winds and weather
- Orientation to maximise sunlight and views
- Material selection suited to coastal exposure
- Integration with natural landforms and topography
- Creating sheltered outdoor spaces within exposed settings
The result is architecture that feels both protective and open — allowing connection to the landscape without compromising comfort.
Christchurch and South Island Coastal Sites
We design coastal and retreat homes across Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, and the wider South Island. From hillside sites overlooking Lyttelton Harbour to more remote coastal environments, each project requires a tailored architectural response.
Our experience across a range of exposed and landscape-driven sites allows us to design homes that are both robust and refined.
Homes Shaped by Place
The outcome of coastal and retreat architecture is not just a building, but an experience of place.
Spaces are designed to frame views, capture light, and create moments of shelter within more expansive landscapes. Materials are selected to weather naturally, allowing the home to age in a way that reflects its environment.
The result is a home that feels grounded, enduring, and deeply connected to its setting.
View Coastal Projects
A selection of our work illustrates our approach to coastal and retreat architecture across a range of South Island sites.
We also design homes across a range of residential environments:
Start a Project
If you’re considering a coastal or retreat home in Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, or elsewhere in the South Island, we’d be happy to talk.
Early conversations help clarify site opportunities, design direction, and whether we’re the right fit for your project.