New Zealanders call them "baches"; small, simple wood vacation houses for no-frills holidays by the sea.

One definition of a bach is "something you built yourself, on land you don't own, out of materials you borrowed or stole." Auckland-based architects Crosson Clarke Carnachan take the bach concept a step further, adding portability to the equation by anchoring the structure on a steel sled. Located in an erosion zone on the Coromandel Peninsula, where houses must be mobile, "the house is a response to the ever-changing landscape that lines the beachfront in this coastal erosion zone," the architects say. To see more of the firm's work, go to Crosson Clarke Carnachan.

Above: The cabin is clad in macrocarpa wood and blends into the landscape.

Above: When the owners are away, the cabin can be closed off completely to protect against the elements.

Above: According to the architects, "The hut comes to life when the enormous shutter on the northeast side winches open to form an awning."

Above: The industrial-strength winch.

Above: The interior is simple and compact.

Above: The family's three children sleep in a triple-tiered bunk room.

Above: A ladder leads to a mezzanine bedroom.

Above: Throughout the cabin, the architects used industrial fittings and fixtures.

Above: The tiny sink is tucked into a corner bath.

Above: A view of the bach installation.