Created by New Zealand's Herbst Architects, the Utility Shed is a small but exquisitely detailed structure on Great Barrier Island. Designed for a family that uses the site as a summer retreat, the shed serves as a secure, functional space to be used and locked up while the main holiday house, or bach, is not in use. Located on a heavily treed lot with a stream leading to a sheltered beach, the shed is part of a larger, long-term plan for the property.

Despite its small footprint of just 6 square meters plus a small deck, the shed is a testament to Herbst Architects' ability to work in harmony with the New Zealand landscape. Known for their sensitive, materially expressive, and context-aware designs, the architects approached this project with the same care as their larger, award-winning baches. The shed is designed to be as efficient and self-contained as a "Swiss army knife," ready to be unfolded and used.

The design is autonomous and carefully positioned among the trees, with a boardwalk to protect the root systems. As is typical of Herbst's work on the off-grid Great Barrier Island, the shed minimizes its environmental impact.

Credits

Architects: Herbst Architects

Photography: Jackie Meiring

Location: Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

Construction Period: 2017