Homes Archives

Why this Waiheke Island holiday home doesn’t draw attention to itself

Sitting on fairly public site, this Waiheke Island holiday used clever design and thoughtful material choices to quietly slip from view Q&A with architect John Irving of Studio John Irving You’ve managed to design a home on a fairly public site that’s not only discreet but very private. How did the design for this tricky site unfold for you? We like to keep it simple, and courtyards are brilliant when privacy and shelter are an

How camping inspired these modest but elegant holiday cabins

Architect Piers Kay of Fearon Hay channelled the intimacy of camping and created a holiday section many would find hard to leave Q&A with architect Piers Kay of Fearon Hay Where do you draw the line on what to include and what not to include within a modest footprint? The starting point from the clients was modest – somewhere to sleep, somewhere to bathe and somewhere to cook and eat. By referencing camping, there was

How this impressive Kawau bach was built with only boat access to the site

A notional shed on a jetty was the inspiration for this impressive bach above a beach on Kawau Island Q&A with Sam Caradus of Crosson Architects Tell us about the challenges of building on Kawau. It’s not without its complications. It requires careful planning and a builder who’s engaged and willing. The site is remote and everything needs to be barged over – plus the contractors were going over there and back on a daily

How this waterfront Waiheke bach enjoys both privacy and views

A beach house on Waiheke Island by John Irving quietly slips from view, without having to put up a fence. Here’s how they did it Simplicity is an art form. Making something appear effortless, when the opposite is closer to the truth, takes much more than a sleight of hand. This weekender by John Irving on Waiheke Island is recessive and quiet on its site – quite a feat given its public nature, with the

Why this floating sleepout was the perfect addition to a classic Kiwi bach

An unobtrusive Piha home makes the most of its small site in the bush by elevating the sleepout into the air Q&A with Jose Gutierrez of Jose Gutierrez Architecture How does the sleepout work with the original bach and the site? The sleepout is a stand-alone structure at the rear of the site. It sits directly behind the original bach and was elevated to create an open living space below. This platform is not a

Herbst Architects’ ingenious bach blurs the lines between inside and out

The Herbst bach on Great Barrier Island turns 20 this summer. Simon Farrell-Green looks back at how this project was instrumental for their career There are houses that stay indelibly imprinted on your brain. You can remember every step you took, every footfall despite having only been in them once or twice. They become familiar, like a house you’ve spent a lot of time in. For me, one such place is the bach of Lance

Two elegant cabins in Tawharanui redefine back-to-basics camping

Fearon Hay has designed two elegant cabins that redefine what we’ve come to expect from a back-to-basics encampment A few years ago, a couple with young children approached Fearon Hay with their thoughts about building on rural land they’d purchased on the Tawharanui Peninsula. Located on an inlet, big, rolling grassy hills trickle down to the water’s edge. The estuary is not your quintessential ocean-front view for a holiday home and the owners’ approach to

This impressive shed-like bach on Kawau can only be reached by boat

A notional shed on a jetty was the inspiration for this impressive bach above a beach on Kawau Island Bon Accord Harbour is long and deep, cutting more than halfway through Kawau Island, at the northern edge of the Hauraki Gulf. You travel by boat from Sandspit across Kawau Bay and through the heads, into a harbour that’s sheltered on three sides from the prevailing winds. It’s the harbour that boat owners make for during

How this 1930s bungalow has been renovated to make the most of the view

The home of Pete Bossley and his partner Miriam van Wezel has evolved over 18 years, with outdoor areas being amended to accommodate best use, light and views. Bossley talks us through his manoeuvres Project Outdoor spaces at an architect’s own home Architect Pete Bossley Location Cox’s Bay, Auckland Tell us about the house and its outdoor areas. It was originally a very simple 1930s bungalow, which has been through a couple of iterations. The

Inside a floating sleepout nestled among the Piha bush

An unobtrusive Piha home makes the most of its small site in the bush by elevating the sleepout into the air There’s something magical about Garden Road. It lies at the end of a meandering path – more one-lane access than actual road – that slows you down, physically and mentally. The ‘Garden’ part of the name is at least accurate: big, beautiful pōhutukawa encroach in the loveliest possible way, lilies float on a pond,

This holiday home used a clever solution to overcome its challenging site

Built in place of the original family bach, discover how this Opahi Bay holiday home maximises sunlight and plays homage to childhood memories [jwp-video n=”1″] Project Family holiday home Architect Pat de Pont, SGA Architects Location Opahi Bay, Mahurangi Brief Capture light on a challenging site and build on memories from the original family bach. In the 1940s, Ray McGreal had a bach built and a tennis court laid on land at Mahurangi West. As

The owner of Pic’s Peanut Butter takes us inside his unconventional bach

Pic Picot, of Pic’s Peanut Butter, had a simple brief for his holiday spot: he didn’t want a house. See how architect Julian Mitchell designed a ‘not-a-house’ for Pic and his family below Project ‘Pic’s Not-a-house’ Architect Julian Mitchell, Mitchell Stout Dodd Location Mārahau, Tasman Bay When Pic Picot engaged architect Julian Mitchell to design something for his holiday section at Mārahau, he told him straight: he didn’t want a house. No house at all. Not

How an old workshop was transformed into this clever little home

Faced with a difficult alternation, architect Henri Sayes used a clear and uncompromising vision to create this wonderful little apartment. He discusses the design process behind the project Q&A with architect Henri Sayes of Sayes Studio Good clients make good projects and that’s true in this case. Tell us more about that. Not many people would have seen a dilapidated workshop on a sloping, shadowed strip of land and seen the potential. The client drove

This character home does open-plan living differently with a sunken lounge

Jose Gutierrez responds to a call for a sunken lounge with a clever design that fits the needs of a young family and their friends The brief Justin Mowday— Before the house was renovated, if you were at home during the day you had to have the lights on in every room. Soph, who was pregnant at the time, wanted lots of natural light and for it to feel open. Sophie Mowday— We originally said

Inside a thoughtfully designed, sunny yellow bungalow extension

The architects from Pac Studio deploy light and fun through materials for a bungalow extension. See its bright yellow floors below Q&A with Dr Sarosh Mulla and Aaron Paterson of Pac Studio How is all that yolkiness on a summer’s day? Sarosh Mulla— Because we’ve got our big projecting verandah, it doesn’t get oppressive. You get reflected light off the floor nearest the dining table, and the yellow light bouncing off the ceiling is really nice

How these architects elegantly restored a mid-century gem

Four mid-century enthusiasts resurrect an original design by Allan Mitchener Q&A with Matt Arnold, of Sons & Co, and Prue Johnstone of JCA You describe yourself as a glutton for architecture. Matt Arnold— I can’t get enough and Christchurch is a wonderful place for mid-century architecture in particular. There was a burst of creative energy in Christchurch during the 1960s, it had quite a moment, and I’m magnetically attracted to those buildings as they represent the best

Inside an impressive concrete home with a sleek but cosy interior

Sixteen years on, Daniel Marshall reworks an early design with a fresh new perspective. See inside this impressive concrete home below In some ways, 2003 doesn’t seem like such a long time ago – until you count all the things that have changed. Sixteen years ago, the world was still reeling from the aftermath of September 11 and George W Bush’s subsequent invasion of Iraq; Helen Clark was New Zealand’s prime minister. Finding Nemo was

Why this modern cottage extension took its inspiration from glasshouses

Q&A with architect Rich Naish of RTA Studio The owners have gone from a tiny cottage to a substantially larger home. How does it work for them? They are a very busy, social family. Jo has a lot of out-of-town business, so she’s constantly up and down the country. They manage an incredibly hectic life with no real boundaries between social and business lives, so while it’s a great entertaining house it’s also, I think,

This fun bungalow extension will make you want yellow floors

Pac Studio deploys light and fun through materials for a bungalow extension Some regard puns – especially egg puns – as the lowest form of wit. But the yolk’s on them, because this bungalow extension in Auckland’s Mount Albert, known as ‘Yolk’ house, features a bright yellow floor – a calculated whisk that shows off the occupants’ free-range thinking (and that’s all the egg gags omelettin’ you have). According to Pac Studio’s Sarosh Mulla, the

This mid-century gem in Christchurch is given new life

Four mid-century enthusiasts resurrect an original design by Allan Mitchener. Take a tour of this restored gem in Christchurch here.

Architect Daniel Marshall renovates an early design for the third time

Sixteen years on, Daniel Marshall reworks an early design with a fresh new perspective Q&A with architect Daniel Marshall of DMA What’s it like revisiting early projects? It’s a privilege. Often the house has changed hands, so it’s great to still have an involvement. It introduces a level of retrospection in terms of the creative process – you look back sometimes to see the way forward. This was the third time we have been engaged

Inside a small, sunny home tucked neatly next to a large concrete building

Henri Sayes floats a new apartment on top of concrete commercial building When you’re presented with an alteration that’s sandwiched between a rock and a hard place, it can feel creatively suffocating. To the north of this two-level warehouse a stone’s throw from the main street of Parnell, Auckland, was a looming concrete-block edifice. Rock. To the south, a rumpty home with Victorian values. Hard place. For architect Henri Sayes, of Sayes Studio, it felt

This character cottage in Christchurch has a modern secret at the back

Richard Naish taps into family heritage to extend this character cottage in Christchurch When Jo and Alistair Blair were ready to extend their two-bedroom cottage in St Albans, Christchurch, Jo’s award-winning architect cousin Rich Naish was the clear and obvious choice to lead the project. Jo and Rich had spent many family holidays together on their grandfather’s property at Kakanui, near Oamaru in Otago, and they grew up playing around his glasshouses. In recent years,

Why this couple decided they wanted to build well, not big

With a few smart moves and a clever plan, Spacecraft Architects create a dynamic little house in Tokomaru Tokomaru is about 20 minutes south of Palmerston North and has a population of about 550. There’s a dairy, a school and a steam-engine museum. The roads are wide and letterboxes are marked with names, not just numbers. In 2015, Michelle and Paul, the owners of this home, became the town’s newest residents. Employed by the army,

How this historic building was restored and turned into a family home

After seeing many masonry buildings lost in the Christchurch earthquake, this couple saw an opportunity to retain and enhance this 1940s character building Q&A with Kate and Daniel Sullivan of Architects’ Creative You’ve said the adaptive reuse of the original house was a sustainable approach, whereas others might have bowled it. Can you measure the costs of retaining and reusing as opposed to building new? Daniel Sullivan— We saw too much value in the original

How this small home was designed and built in response to its tricky site

A sharp small house by Patchwork Architecture floats above a vertiginous Wellington site. We talk to Sally Ogle and Ben Mitchell-Anyon about how they approached this steep site Q&A with Sally Ogle and Ben Mitchell-Anyon of Patchwork Architecture This is the third project you’ve done with Adam and Dorset Construction. How important is that relationship? Sally Ogle— It’s pretty awesome. It makes it a lot easier when you know that person really well and understand how

This one-bedroom home was designed to suit its busy owner’s lifestyle

As someone who travels a lot for work, it’s fitting that Graeme Nicholls’ small, one-bedroom home in Lyall Bay is nicknamed ‘Suitcase’ house Project ‘Suitcase’ house Architect David Melling, Melling Architects Location Lyall Bay, Wellington Brief Fit a tiny home on a bush-clad site for a single occupant who travels often It’s fitting that Graeme Nicholls’ small home is nicknamed ‘Suitcase’ house – the flight manager spends more than 20 nights a month living out

This family built their compact home in mum and dad’s back garden

As a result of soaring property prices and recent changes to Auckland’s Unitary Plan, this family found a savvy solution to their quest for a home: building a house in mum and dad’s back garden Q&A with Hamish Stirrat of Fabricate Architecture What was it like working with an extended family as clients? The first meeting was with the whole family, and as we progressed the design it was Kirstin and Dan. Once we finalised

How an old stone ruin was brought back to life with a modern renovation

Determined to keep the historical facade as it was, Mark Cannata cleverly inserted a crisp new home into an old stone ruin in Sicily, without touching the exterior Architect Mark Cannata describes the house he shares with his nine-year old daughter, Mia, as a “stone caravan”. We’re talking in the modest entrance courtyard to his little house on the edge of Modica, in Sicily’s south-east. At 50 square metres, the 18th-century home qualifies as tiny

Inside a small Wellington house with incredible roof terrace views

A sharp little house by Patchwork Architecture floats above a vertiginous Wellington site Let’s start with the roof. Builder Adam Pierson and his wife Alicia’s distinctive new home has one – of course it does. But nothing quite prepares you for being up on it on a breezy Wellington afternoon. It’s easy to get to; no ladder required. From the home’s main deck, you trot up a dozen or so stairs, cross a bright yellow

This old stone ruin in Sicily has the most unexpected interior

Determined to keep the historical facade as it was, this architect cleverly transformed the interior of this old stone ruin without touching the exterior Q&A with architect Mark Cannata of Zero Zero How long did the renovation take? Time in Sicily seems to move more slowly than other parts of the world. The construction phase took almost two years, which is much longer than you would normally expect. The emphasis on quality and innovation meant

Inside a 65 square metre home where space and light are in abundance

When the Auckland Unitary Plan allowed this couple an as-of-right minor dwelling, they wondered if they could live well on a 65 square metre footprint. As it turned out, they could. See their cosy little home below Project Minor dwelling Architect Pat de Pont, SGA Location Mt Eden, Auckland Brief Build a secondary dwelling for rental, no bigger than 65 square metres Sixty-five is a magic number. It brings a certain freedom: the opportunity for

How this small, square Tokomaru home makes the most of the light

With a few smart moves and a clever plan, Spacecraft Architects create a dynamic small house in Tokomaru Q&A with Tim Gittos of Spacecraft Architects Talk us through the placement and pattern of the skylights. They bring northern and eastern light into the main room, which otherwise has only western and southern aspects, and changing, dappled light and sun throughout the day. The skylights run down the walls that separate the main room from the

This small art-filled home is built on a former vegetable garden

Hamish Stirrat designs a house for artists Dan Arps and Kirstin Carlin on the site of her parents’ former backyard vegetable garden Thirty-eight years ago, Tony and Lynne Carlin moved into a little 1940s weatherboard house on a big flat section in Auckland’s Mount Roskill. It has served as their family home ever since. Their children grew up there, moved away – and then over the past few years, they’ve slowly come home. First, Tony and

Inside a small 1940s concrete bunker with a sympathetic modern extension

Two Christchurch architects transform a 1940s concrete bunker into a home of texture, light and comfort The home of architects Kate and Daniel Sullivan, a very convenient 50 metres from Sumner beach, is the first project they’ve worked on for themselves. The couple founded Architects’ Creative about eight years ago in Christchurch, where they’ve established their careers and work on a range of projects, including new residential and renovations. They keep their practice modest (three

How this small home was built for the view and designed for the future

Architect Graeme Cunningham has designed a clever small home for Jeanette Smail on the land that was formerly her backyard Project Second dwelling Design Graeme Cunningham, Architecture & Environment Location Torbay, Auckland Brief Design to the view and future-proof for flexibility When Jeanette Smail held the house-warming for her new home by Graeme Cunningham, her friends applauded him. He’d achieved just what she wanted – a house that embraced the views and drew the sun’s

How a 1960s family home was transformed into a serene design studio

A 1960s home that raised a family has been converted by Jane and Arch MacDonnell to house their design studio Jane MacDonnell— We started up Inhouse back in 1994 when I got pregnant. We wanted to have our baby with us and didn’t want to put her into daycare and go off to different jobs. So we started in the front room of our house in Kingsland, hence the name. Then we got a bit

Take a tour of an elegant Parnell penthouse built in the old Ford Factory

This family of six decided to take a leap of faith and had Patterson Architects design a beautiful penthouse apartment for them in the old Ford factory Q&A with associate Luke Douglas of Patterson Associates How did the Ford Penthouse project come about? Director Andrew Mitchell and I were leading the project team for the Ford Residences when the penthouse developed into a full fitout and interiors project. This was about the time construction was

Inside a beautiful family home designed to fit on a small piece of lawn

Architect Lisa Webb talks about how she created a home of intrigue and shadow on a tiny scrap of land that was formerly a front lawn Q&A with architect Lisa Webb of Studio LWA You’ve resolved a small site with a tight programme to create a family home. How are you enjoying living in it? It was pretty overwhelming in the beginning. We had been renting a draughty bungalow where the spaces were larger, but

Inside a chic Wellington apartment designed with Passive House Principles

Architects Gerald Parsonson and Craig Burt of Parsonson Architects discuss their process of designing two exquisite apartments in Wellington with Passive House Principles Q&A with Gerald Parsonson and Craig Burt of Parsonson Architects How did you avoid the high cost of earthworks on a site like this? Gerald Parsonson: We used the old structure from the original house. A normal Kiwi house is timber. This had concrete columns, steel beams and a concrete floor. The

Architect Rafe Maclean discusses designing to Passive House Principles

On a steep site in Dunedin, Rafe Maclean designed a warm little home for his family around Passive House principles. He talks through the process Q&A with Rafe Maclean of Rafe Maclean Architects What drew you to Passive House design? I had a realisation around 10 years ago that I didn’t know how to predict building energy use at the design stage, and the accuracy around predicting interior comfort levels was pretty gut-feel. I also

How this architect designed a compact family home on a small front lawn

Lisa Webb creates a home of intrigue and shadow on a tiny scrap of land that was formerly a front lawn For a moment, coming in from a bright Auckland afternoon through the timber-lined entry of architect Lisa Webb’s home, your eyes take time to adjust. Slowly, the house reveals itself as you round the corner – a black ceiling, rimu lining and dark blue walls come into relief. The effect is almost painterly, with

Why this family of six moved from the suburbs to a penthouse apartment

This family of six decided to take a leap of faith and had Patterson Architects design a beautiful penthouse apartment for them in the old Ford factory. They discuss why it was the best decision ever There’s a confusion of buildings in this tightly packed pocket of Parnell, Auckland. The dense concentration of predominantly residential properties – some faux-Victorian, some a little undecided – is interspersed with offices and one or two warehouses. There’s very

Why this couple built two apartments on their steep Wellington site

Gerald Parsonson crafts two exquisite apartments – one to live in and one to rent – for a retired couple It’s hard to know where to look in John and Heather Hutton’s handsome central Wellington apartment. There are fabulous views everywhere. If you face north west, you can see over the top of the well-ordered wilderness of the Botanic Gardens to Tinakori Hill. To the north east, your eye is carried across the central cityscape

This home wasn’t afraid to push the boundaries with extreme angles

Craig Wilson of TOA Architects discusses the abstract ideas that inspired the unique and thoughtful design of this Grey Lynn home Q&A with Craig Wilson of TOA Architects This was a tight site with difficult access. How did you keep to the schedule? Access definitely caused issues with the programme. The CLT panels could’ve been up in three days if they could have been delivered to the site at one go. Credit goes to the

How this unique home overcame its steep, narrow site

Craig Wilson resolves a steep, narrow site with prefabrication technology and a little humour ‘Don’t pack a sad’. The artist’s message on fluted plastic board in the kitchen is pointed, droll. Indeed, retaining a sense of equilibrium was advantageous in this project. Owners Craig and Kristin Wilson built a home after seven years of living – strike that – existing in the worst house on a not-so-favoured street. It was “interesting times”, says Craig, an

How this rural home brings a contemporary urban edge to its setting

Smartly dressed and designed for its location, this understated sleek black box fits effortlessly into the rolling countryside landscape that surrounds it Project Rural residence Architectural designer Box Location Kaiwaka, Northland Brief Embrace the rural location A design that responds to site and situation is a job done well. Pair that with products developed to respond to the environment and aesthetic requirements, and the job is elevated to the next level. The rural aspect of

A gutsy little home high on a hill by Rafe Maclean Architects

On an impossibly steep site in Dunedin, Rafe Maclean designs a warm and welcoming little home for his family around passive house principles.

How this home used low-maintenance cladding to make a statement

Cost efficient, easy to install and a smart finish, here’s how this Kerikeri home used black cladding to stand out from the rest Project Pod house Architectural designer Alan Simpkin, Arcline Architecture Builders Circle D Construction Location Kerikeri Brief A unique, light-filled home with ample wall space for art Pod homes suit the New Zealand lifestyle as they allow private spaces to sit harmoniously alongside busy communal ones, while creating more outdoor living space. When

Why the 56-tonne concrete roof in this winning home isn’t oppressive

Architect Jack McKinney discusses the collaborative process that went into designing and building this award-winning home with its 56-tonne concrete roof Q&A with architect Jack McKinney You’ve worked with Cam on many projects – how does this affect the way you design for him? We have a body of work that we are always trying to surpass. Finding new outcomes keeps both of us interested. We are currently exploring concrete construction, with each project slightly

How this house was designed for the winter sun’s path and mountain views

Traditional bivouacs motivated this home’s design but it was the path of the winter sun, plus the spectacular mountain views that dictated the home’s angles Q&A with architect Vaughn McQuarrie How did clients from Australia come to approach an architect from Waiheke? They found me on the internet, via another project I had done down south that they liked. We met up initially in Auckland to discuss the project, then on site in Queenstown. I’m from Southland,

Architect Vincent Van Duysen’s home is pared-back design at its finest

Architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen takes Thomas Seear-Budd on a tour of his home and an accommodation project in Antwerp, Belgium Vincent Van Duysen has gained international recognition for his restrained spaces that speak to the art of living. The Belgian architect studied in the 1980s at Saint-Lucas in Ghent before moving to Milan, where he worked with Aldo Cibic. Now based in Antwerp, his studio designs residential and commercial architecture, interiors, furniture and products.

These Wynyard apartments show us how good high-density living can be

The architect behind this design, Patrick Clifford, discusses how the design of the Wynyard apartments came to be. See more of these homes below Q&A with Patrick Clifford of Architectus Could you explain the creative thinking that went into deciding the final design? The process was quite a collaborative one with three firms of architects, Willis Bond and history of the project. The reference design that was provided as part of the project was critiqued.

How this small home has made the most of its tricky location

Tim Gittos and Caro Robertson of Spacecraft Architects discuss why this tricky site gave them inspiration and not trepidation. See more of this clever small home below Q&A with Tim Gittos and Caro Robertson of Spacecraft Surely a site like this fills you with trepidation? Tim Gittos— No, it was great – all these constraints breed a lot of creativity. Are sections like this – cheap but difficult – increasingly sought after in Wellington? Caro

How each room in this impressive home was designed for a specific view

There were two possible sites for this award-winning Queenstown home. But the views from this location won the architect and owners over Q&A with Richard Naish of RTA Studio How did you work out where to place the elements of the home on the property and in relation to each other? We walked the property and tested two sites, with this one becoming the preferred. We liked its exposure to key views, together with its undulating

This Great Barrier bach goes back to basics in the most sophisticated way

After winning the Dulux award for best interior, Architect Stuart Gardyne discusses the details behind designing this Great Barrier bach Q&A with Stuart Gardyne of Architecture+ The project started as a ‘courtyard’ house but evolved – what was the key to unlocking the design? Enclosure can be achieved in many ways, as can connections to garden and outdoor spaces. The qualities of a courtyard can be achieved using planting and hedges; it’s not necessary to

Inside an award-winning Grey Lynn home with its 56-tonne concrete roof

With its striking concrete diagrid roof and sense of fun, HOME magazine’s Home of the Year 2019 is a truly Auckland house [jwp-video n=”1″] “It’s sort of simple on purpose,” says architect Jack McKinney, self-deprecatingly of our Home of the Year 2019. McKinney designed the home in Grey Lynn, Auckland, for his long-time clients and friends, builder Cameron Ireland and Rachael Newnham, and their three children. “Sometimes a project depends on whether it’s immaculately perfect,

How this unique small home took its design inspiration from a bivouac

This small home takes its inspiration from the environment it sits in. Traditional bivouacs motivated its design for it is a place to relax, retreat and enjoy the spectacular mountain views The first time architect Vaughn McQuarrie met his clients on site, they were about to leave on a 12-day back-country tramp, with no fixed route and plans to sleep rough “under logs and rocks”. The conceptual die was cast: a ‘Bivvy’ house. As McQuarrie

This Waikanae home makes a statement with its oversized black cladding

Striking yet simple, see how this Waikanae home uses black cladding to set the scene for its minimalist interior style Project Pavilion House Architectural designer Peter Davis Builders David Reid Homes Kapiti Location Waikanae Brief Design for contrasting criteria and to incorporate nature. Contrasting criteria, such as an owner’s idiosyncrasies, are often factored into home design. Architectural designer Peter Davis was challenged to accommodate spaces for strident noise as well as serene silence when designing

This stylish home will make you want brick walls and a gabled roof

A designer creates a fortress-like home in Birkenhead Point, Auckland, for her young family Sophie Wylie, Artifact— “I live here with my husband and our three children – a five year old, four year old and two-and-a-half year old. The kids love to play outside so it was interesting having a really urban home for them – the courtyard works well, with enough surface area for them to play. We also have parks around us,

This new development shows us what good apartment living can look like

The first project to be awarded Best Multi-Unit in years, the new Wynyard Central apartment building is what the new Auckland should look like [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year is brought to you in association with Altherm Window Systems Best Multi-Unit Architect: Architectus It wasn’t so long ago that Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter was a nature-stripped industrial area that had done its days in the timber trade before turning to storing petrochemicals as the ‘Tank Farm’. The

This award-winning retreat in Arrowtown celebrates its dramatic landscape

Richard Naish designs a home near Arrowtown that seems to emerge from the spectacular mountain landscape [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year is brought to you in association with Altherm Window Systems Best Retreat Architect: RTA Studio Rather like an English teacher tasking students to write an essay with no topic or word limit, this Arrowtown site posed an immense challenge: an over-abundance of opportunity. In usual circumstances, the parameters of possibility are clear: ring-fenced by section

New Zealand’s best small home overcomes a tricky site in a magical way

Winning Best Small Home at the Home of the Year 2019 awards, this house does more than overcome a difficult site – it makes it into something rather special indeed [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year is brought to you in association with Altherm Window Systems Best Small Home Architect: Spacecraft Architects The vertiginous hills and dizzying slopes of Wellington are full of human interventions. Rows of homes perched precariously atop rugged slopes like so many

This unconventional Great Barrier bach has an award-winning interior style

A sophisticated retreat by Architecture+ at Medlands Beach on Great Barrier Island rethinks conventional bach living. See why it won the Best Interior award, sponsored by Dulux, for Home of the Year 2019 [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year is brought to you in association with Altherm Window Systems Not so long ago, Stuart Gardyne spent a night at the house he designed on Great Barrier Island, only to discover that the neighbours use the place

A 1970s masterpiece is reworked for the second time by Daniel Marshall

Architect Daniel Marshall discusses how he felt renovating this impressive home, originally designed by Robert Railley, not once, but twice Q&A with Daniel Marshall of Daniel Marshall Architects Your practice is not known for renovations. Why take on this one? We engage in commissions based on the potential of the project and our relationship with the client. Although a clean slate can seem more attractive to an architect, sometimes existing limitations can force you to

This Arrowtown home proves an interior can be cosy and sleek

An architectural couple transform a crib in downtown Arrowtown into a home that expands and contracts for family and friends Q&A with Maarten Hofmans of Hofmans Architects What’s the clever detail you’ve employed under the cedar roof with the waterproof Butynol to prevent moisture penetrating? I saw some rural buildings on a work trip to Chile which had layered planks of wood as a wall and roof cladding, offering a great uniform finish over the

How this incredible home was designed in response to its landscape

Architect Cecile Bonnifait of Bonnifait + Giesen tells us how they have designed a house that works with the landscape, both internally and externally Q&A with Architect Cecile Bonnifait of Bonnifait + Giesen How does the house respond to its landscape? The house lies within a gently contoured Hawke’s Bay vineyard facing sea views in the distance. It’s designed as a sculptural folded roof creating a large canopy over the different quarters and echoing the

This modern add-on is a private retreat from the main holiday home

Architect Wendy Shacklock was tasked with creating a modern add-on that’s a retreat from the main retreat in this Langs Beach bach. See how she did it Project Owners’ retreat Architect Wendy Shacklock Location Langs Beach, Northland Brief Create a retreat that sits away from the active parts of the main holiday home. The addition to this Langs Beach holiday home is Wendy Shacklock’s 13th project for her clients. They’ve been with her for 25

An architect discusses how to manage a budget during a renovation

Architect AJ Sutton tells us how he controls a house brief against the budget and what his strategy is when costs get too high Project Villa extension Architect AJ Sutton, MA Studio Location St Mary’s Bay, Auckland Brief Create a contemporary addition to a traditional villa for a young family. Q&A with AJ Sutton and MA Studio Based on recent renovation projects, what’s an indicative cost per square metre? As with all projects there are variables,

5 expert tips for renovating in heritage areas involving council compliance

Architect Natasha Markham gives us her five general rules of thumb for renovating a heritage home and having to deal with council and compliance Project Villa addition Architect Natasha Markham, MAUD Location Eden Terrace, Auckland Brief Create an open-plan living area and a better connection to the garden. Q&A with Natasha Markham of MAUD What’s your five-point guide – some general rules of thumb – to renovating in heritage areas that involve council and compliance? Do the groundwork. Preparation is

How modern pieces worked with traditional details in this Chapman-Taylor

Michelle Backhouse discusses how she balanced modern and contemporary pieces inside her Arts and Crafts Chapman-Taylor home Q&A with Michelle Backhouse Chapman-Taylor’s details are beautiful. What were your favourite parts of the house? The large sitting room with its inglenook fireplace. It was a favourite spot in both winter and summer. Every detail in the room, from the solid and perfectly formed adzed jarrah beams, to the hand-hewn bookshelves and the steel casement windows, created a

How a wheelchair-friendly house was designed to maximise its limited light

Andrew Sexton has designed a wheelchair-friendly home beside Wellington Harbour for his brother, and his other brother built it. Q&A with Andrew Sexton of Andrew Sexton Architecture Had you designed a home for someone who uses a chair before? No, but I’d shared a bedroom with Stew! It wasn’t the only first for you with this home. You had never been asked to include a sauna, nor had you had a design go to public

A classic 1970s home gets a luxurious and sympathetic update

Daniel Marshall gently updates and extends a secluded 1970s home, originally designed by Robert Railley for his family The young couple in the old photograph sits cross-legged on a poppy-red shagpile, a collection of vinyl records spread before them. A Gordon Walters painting hangs on the wall behind and a Barcelona chair is placed, somewhat incongruously, in front of the entrance to this formal living room. The scene, shot in 1973 for Australian Home Journal,

This fibreglass extension is not your average garage

Tasked with creating an extension to this former 1950s Statehouse that could be used as a multi-room, but was not allowed to be a brick-and-tile double garage, architect Mark Frazerhurst looked to curves and corrugated fibreglass Project Studio addition Architect Mark Frazerhurst Location Point Chevalier, Auckland Brief Create a multi-functional room and extra bedrooms for a growing family. Sometimes, beautiful things come from the most prosaic of beginnings. In the case of this addition by Mark

This Te Awanga home will make you want a bright blue kitchen

Bonnifait + Giesen design a house in the vines at Te Awanga with places to work, places to socialise – and places to do both Take a look at the Te Awanga house of Catherine and David Robertson on Google and one thing jumps out at you immediately. Where its neighbours all face diligently north, angled on their axis like obedient little stones, outdoor living areas on the northern side, the Robertson house has a

A sympathetic add-on transformed this Arrowtown crib into a cosy home

An architectural couple transform a crib in downtown Arrowtown into a home that expands and contracts for family and friends There’s something of the spirit of the old crib in Maarten Hofmans and Anna Rees-Hofmans’ home in the historic district of Arrowtown. While finesse sets the new a world apart from the old, they share intent – to accommodate the ebb and flow of people. For the Rees-Hofmans, it’s their blended family of four children,

The wheelchair-friendly home designed and built by two brothers for family

Andrew Sexton designs a wheelchair-friendly home beside Wellington Harbour for his brother, and his other brother builds it It wasn’t quite a miracle, but it was something special all the same. Stew Sexton drove from the supermarket to his new home in Wellington’s Eastbourne, parked the car in the garage, got the groceries out, took them upstairs to his kitchen and put them away in the pantry. Then he rang his wife Doreen, who was

This classic Chapman-Taylor house is cleverly filled with modern pieces

After 23 years, Michelle and Gary Backhouse leave their treasured home, designed in 1909 by James Chapman-Taylor Call it the long goodbye. After more than two decades in a home they have loved, restored and treasured, Michelle and Gary Backhouse were in no mad rush to close its handsome, jarrah-wood front door behind them for the final time. ‘Otari’, their century-old home, an elegant brick-and-title house designed and built by the celebrated Arts and Crafts architect

See how a detailed villa extension fits perfectly into this traditional home

The brief was to create a contemporary addition to a traditional villa for a young family “The clients were up for something refined and highly detailed,” says AJ Sutton. “There was a reasonable brief and a few images – they wanted something modern and open plan, which on that site really means a box on the back.” As simple as the concept seems, this project is rammed with detail; a balancing act as budget rubbed up against

This modern villa extension transformed a lean-to into a sunny living area

This family came up with an ingenious villa extension solution to create an open-plan living area with a better connection to the garden Just about every villa has one: the dreaded lean-to, with sloping ceilings, small windows and a rabbit warren of rooms jammed next to each other. Often derided; usually demolished. But when it came to reworking this villa in Eden Terrace, Auckland, Natasha Markham of MAUD decided on a much more subtle approach. Instead

Inside a simple holiday cabin with the barest level of shelter

One cabin for sleeping, one cabin for resting and a kitchen that’s open to the elements. This holiday home is simple living at its finest Q&A with Ben Mitchell-Anyon of Patchwork Architecture Where did you draw the line on what to include, and what not to include, in the cabins? The composting toilet and outdoor shower were already built. The shower is (or was) built around a totara tree, the toilet is a decent stroll

How this Opahi Bay home worked sustainability into its latest renovation

Sustainability is a core value of Strachan Group Architects’ practice, here’s how the incorporated it into this Ophai Bay revamp Q&A with Pat de Pont of Strachan Group Architects What was it like working with family? It’s such a privilege working for anyone and having people put their trust in you. With family, the responsibility that comes with that definitely ramps up a few notches. We get on really well – we all have different

This bold bach makes a strong case for red subway tiles

There’s a wall of red subway tiles, a few red furniture accents and an exterior painted in (you guessed it) red. This bold bach is bringing red back in vogue Project ‘Takatu’ house Architect RTA Studio Location Tawharanui Peninsula Brief Build a bach for family and friends, one that will be passed down through the generations. [gallery_link num_photos=”5″ media=”http://homestolove.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TakatuBach_Home_Dec2019_6.jpg” link=”/real-homes/home-tours/striking-red-bach-paddock-beach-view” title=”Read more about this home here”] The view from this long, low red bach isn’t

Why Crosson Architects chose to build this Otama bach on stilts

Armed with a brief that asked for a bach that blended in with the landscape but made the most of the incredible views, Ken Crosson chose to elevate it on stilts Q&A with Ken Crosson of Crosson Architects How did you create a structure that talked about the New Zealand context? We typically research local context extensively and draw threads to generate an architectural response, which is woven with the clients’ desires and brief. Our

This self-built summer cabin has a kitchen that’s open to the elements

With only two enclosed rooms connected by an open kitchen and living space, this self-built summer cabin is stripped back to the bare necessities “I always wanted to build a cabin,” says Simon Wilson. “That’s one thing I’d wanted to do forever.” Yet three years ago, at the height of the Auckland property crisis, Wilson and his partner Anna MacLeod – who have two children, Milo (eight) and Scout (two) – found themselves locked out

This Akaroa home was designed to make the most of its waterfront views

This Akaroa home expertly uses a classic gable style roofline and wide windows to soak up the picturesque views of the harbour Q&A with Aaron Paterson and Liz Tjahjana of PAC Studio What were the site’s complexities? Aaron Paterson: With its waterfront location and visual prominence from Daly’s Wharf, it needed to be aware of the surroundings. From a distance and the waterfront, the design intent is that the house appears as a series of

This Te Horo holiday home proves the classic Kiwi bach is not extinct

Sitting on the sand dunes, this angular new build encapsulates the spirit of the much-loved mid-20th-century batten-and-fibrolite bach This Te Horo holiday home proves the classic Kiwi bach is not extinct Now, this is how a beach house should be: wet dogs and driftwood, wet towels and sand on the floor, discarded boardgames and kids – lots and lots of kids. It’s the school holidays and Kerry, her friend Philippa, and their combined broods of,

How this Pauanui bach attained a laid-back camping vibe with architectural flair

The brief for this Pauanui bach, which caters for two families was something that didn’t lose the original camping feel. The result was that and much more Project Shared family bach Designer Adam Taylor Architecture Location Pauanui, Coromandel Brief A bach that caters to two families, without losing the original laidback, camping feel of the former set-up. For 12 years, brothers Brent and Mark Procter and their families happily spent summer holidays on a small

Why this Wanaka holiday home took its inspiration from a DoC hut

With a young family who love to explore outdoors, the brief for this Wanaka holiday home was simple: something that resembles a DoC hut Project Te Kea hut Architect Rafe Maclean Architects Location Rippon Lea, Wanaka Brief To design a holiday home with DoC hut references for a young family who love exploring the outdoors. Wanaka holds a lot of significance for owners Kathryn and Matt. They lived there for a few years after university;

Here’s why this striking red bach chose the paddock over a beach view

After seven years on the site, when it was finally time to build their red bach, the owners knew the best spot was facing the paddocks, not the beach Here’s why this striking red bach chose the paddock over a beach view The view from this long, low red bach isn’t of white sand and pōhutukawa, but paddocks and sheep. It’s a bucolic, sheltered little spot, close enough to the beach yet far enough away