Bach (pronounced Batch, with the alternative of Crib in the southern part of New Zealand) is the name given in New Zealand to structures akin to small, often very modest holiday homes or beach houses. They are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the middle class.
"Bach" was originally short for bachelor pad, but actually they often tended to be a family holiday home. An alternative theory for the origination of the word is that "bach" in Welsh means small.
Baches started to became very popular in the 1950s, as better roads and more available cars allowed family beach holidays, often to the same beach every year, and hence to the construction of a bach in that spot. One humorous definition of the bach, is "something you built yourself, on land you don't own, out of materials you borrowed or stole.
Early baches rarely enjoyed amenities like connections to the water and electricity grid or indoor toilets. They were furnished basically, often with second hand furniture.
In more recent times the basic bach has been replaced by the modern "holiday house", more substantial, more expensive (reflecting increasing affluence, and vastly increased coastal land values) and usually professionally built (due to stricter building codes).
Another important change has been the subdivision of coastal land, with increasing numbers of residents and visitors, bringing traffic, cafes, mobile phone coverage, craft shops and other conveniences to what were originally empty beaches and bush-filled gullies. Some bach-dotted beaches in the 1950s have today become suburban areas.
(from wikipedia)
7 comments:
It hard to think of holiday homes in the midst of all our snowy weather today! :)
So what kind of bach do you reside in through the summer months? I can see you amongst the crafts and cafes.
We have juts had some beach huts built in Blyth which look really pretty but for some reason are hardly used. I think its more the council rental policy where someone can rent it for a month or a whole season and may only use it once or twice. I think they should be rented out on a daily basis so at least they will be used more especially in the warmer months.
Our bach is a more modern kind, a little three bedroomed house built in 1988 so not really 'rustic'. It has a wooden interior, giving it a little like a 'log cabin' effect. it has a big deck at the side and front giving lots of outdoor space for barbeques and just sitting ans watching the world go by.
It is definitely not a big two storied ultra modern monstrosity which is what some are building these days.
Beach sections are now so expensive that only those with serious money can really afford them. We are lucky that we bought our section and built the little house before prices escalated.
I like you're festive new header!
you are so damned far away i forget to blog to you but i know you are there in all your sunny weather
I always find the different baches along the coastlines quite fascinating in their differences. From tiny trailers to elegant homes.
Veronica - the header is a photo I took of our NZ Christmas tree, the Pohutukawa tree which is looking just glorious at the moment.
Putz!!! - you are still there. I bet you are buried in deep snow at the moment.
Bettyl - I would love to post some pics of some of the more interesting baches, but I am too embarrassed to stand outside and take the photos in case the owners object.
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