Homes Archives

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

This striking Akaroa home was built to accommodate three generations

Sitting on the water’s edge in Akaroa is a cleverly designed group of homes, built to accommodate a family of three generations; connected but separate Throw a stone from the deck of this holiday house designed by Aaron Paterson and Liz Tjahjana of PAC Studio, and you’ll hit a landmark. Daly’s Wharf, Akaroa’s oldest surviving wharf, projects from the nearby seawall into Children’s Bay, terminating in a little shelter with an orange turret roof. Paterson and

This angular build put a modern spin on the classic Kiwi bach

Its coastal site proved a challenge but the outcome was a striking angular bach that the architects involved thought the owners would say “heck no” to This angular build put a modern spin on the classic Kiwi bach Q&A with Gerald Parsonson of Parsonson Architects: You’ve been quietly playful with colours for the exterior battens? A colour palette that we had to adhere to came with the subdivision. It’s quite muted and soft, no bright

Why this impressive Otama beach house chose its irregular shape

Floating on the white sand dunes, this black steel-clad Otama beach house manages to make the most of its views whilst maintaining its privacy Otama is one of the most perfect beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. There’s squeaky white sand and gentle rolling surf, an estuary and bleached grassy hills behind. It’s three hours from the nearest city over narrow, winding roads and, until recently, the road from State Highway 25 was unsealed and occasionally

How one small faux-pas gave this home’s prime spot to the tennis court

Never leave a neighbour in charge of your build. This family learned that the hard way and now their tennis court has the best views on the property How one small faux-pas gave this home’s prime spot to the tennis court Designed on the footprint of memories, this Opahi Bay home has history in its DNA. The familiar is its framework; generational continuity its building blocks. Just after World War II, Ray McGreal bought this

Here’s how this striking black-clad house responds to its tough landscape

With mountain ranges on all sides, this Queenstown home was designed to be striking, but sit unobtrusively amongst the landscape Q&A with Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay of Fearon Hay Architects In this striking black-clad Queenstown home the views of the surrounding mountain range are ever-present, but carefully framed and revealed slowly as you walk through the home. “The idea was that each roof would lift towards a different view, and bring the landscape into

How an architect and artist worked together to design a dramatic home

Both inspired by the modernist era the pairing of architect Claude Megson and artist Roy Good resulted in a house of angles, drama and intrigue How an architect and artist worked together to design a dramatic home What was it like working with architect Claude Megson? Roy Good: We were novices in respect to house design but Claude had a marvellous ability to ease the client into the process. Regular meetings proceeded over what was a

A beachfront home in Takapuna is designed to hero the fantastic views

Pete Bossley has designed a house that floats among the pōhutukawa on Takapuna beach. A beachfront home in Takapuna is designed to hero the fantastic views Auckland’s Takapuna Beach looms large in the lives of the owners of this Bossley Architects-designed home. As a teenager, Helen Gillespie was a volunteer lifeguard at Takapuna, travelling over the Auckland Harbour Bridge from her childhood home in Westmere, a modernist house designed by her late father, architect Barton Gillespie of Wilson Moodie

This Queenstown house blends seamlessly into its mountain surrounds

With a mountainous backdrop and bare landscape, there is only a certain type of house that sits in this setting like it was made for it. This is that house This Queenstown house blends seamlessly into its mountain surrounds It’s almost filmic. After turning off the main road to Gibbston and up the switchback Crown Range Road, you turn onto a rutted gravel driveway and a dark house in the distance flits in and out of view. As the

Here’s why a spiral staircase was the perfect addition to this edgy house

A soft spiral staircase helped achieved the perfect balance in an industrial Waiheke home that’s “part cathedral, part boatshed” Q&A with architect Vaughn McQuarrie: What drove the decision to dig the street end of the house into the slope? I didn’t want a balustrade to the deck at the sea end, so I had to keep the floor level low enough that the drop from the deck to the ground would be less than one metre. [gallery_link

A 1960’s apartment gets a modern new layout and look

Architect Dom Glamuzina learnt about working with family when he updated an apartment in the glamorous 1960s building, ‘The Pines’, for his father Q&A with Dominic Glamuzina of Glamuzina Architects How many square metres is the apartment and how does it function within the footprint? It’s essentially a 130-square-metre one-bedroom apartment with a study, which would be an outlier in the current Auckland apartment market. The original plan was broken down into discreet spaces that

Why this Takapuna beachfront home opted for visual simplicity

Pete Bossley has designed a beachfront home that floats among the pōhutukawa on Takapuna beach Why this Takapuna beachfront home opted for visual simplicity Q&A with Pete Bossley of Bossley Architects What did the owners ask you to create on this beachfront site? Helen and Jack wanted a warm house that related well to the beach. The views are fantastic and Jack is very active in the water, so a direct connection to the beach and Rangitoto was important

An elegant apartment redefines pastels as a sophisticated colour scheme

Architect Dom Glamuzina updated an apartment in a glamorous 1960s building with a palette of saturated pastels, brass and marble Welton Becket is something of an outlier in American architecture. During his long career he designed thousands of buildings and established a practice that eventually numbered more than 500 people, with offices spread from New York to Los Angeles, and projects as varied as the Capitol Records building and Beverly Hilton in LA, and the

This dramatically angled house was designed to display the owner’s art

In 1968, Claude Megson devised a house of angles, drama and intrigue for the artist Roy Good in Oratia. The gallery-like walls are now adorned with his art This dramatically angled house was designed to display the owner’s art This year Roy Good celebrates 50 years as a practising artist and designer. Retrospective exhibitions open in December at Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery in Auckland, and in 2019 at CoCA, Christchurch. At the latter, Parallel

This Waiheke house was designed to be part boatshed, part cathedral

They say opposites attract. It’s case in point in this Waiheke house where grandiose cathedral meets cosy boat shed, with a hint of nostalgia This Waiheke house was designed to be part boatshed, part cathedral On a hill above Waiheke Island’s Anzac Bay is a house that seems to recline on its elbows, wriggle down into the sand a little, and tip its face to the sun. It feels good inside. Welcoming, lofty, warm. “A

This renovated 1950s railway cottage reconnects with the past

Ben Daly turns a plain 1950s railway cottage into something personal and magical, without losing its original spirit Q&A with architect Ben Daly What’s the attraction to refitting humble buildings like this? I’m very keen on the idea of memory, the life and the stories of everyday buildings, things we are drawn to and react to. It’s almost a way to try to reconnect with the past and a simple way of living. I’m interested in seeing

This renovation of an Ernst Plishcke original pays tribute to its history

A 1959 flat by Ernst Plischke above the garage of diplomats and art collectors Frank and Lyn Corner seems to expand well beyond its four small walls Q&A with Stuart Gardyne of Architecture Plus What did you know of the ‘Corner Flat’ before you worked on it? Having known the family most of my adult life, I was well aware of its qualities. While its presence on the street is modest, its reputation was much larger, being

This Taupiri home makes the most of its location

Architect Dan Smith and his wife Sam leave Auckland to build a small, crisp house in Taupiri, on the banks of the Waikato River Q&A with architect Dan Smith Tell us about finding this piece of land. I’m regularly hunting for the next design opportunity; architects are always seeking the potential of overlooked spaces. I stumbled across this listing with a stunning view over the Waikato River and convinced Sam to stop in on our way

The home of the late Tom Kreisler is an ode to his work

The late Tom Kreisler lives on in his New Plymouth home where his widow Lesley has paired his large-scale paintings with Mexican artefacts and family heirlooms The home of the late Tom Kreisler is an ode to his work Tom Kreisler was an enigmatic figure in the New Zealand arts community. Born in 1938 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he came to live in New Zealand in 1952 where he studied art at the University of

This hillside home makes a strong case for an all wood interior

A compact house in the Karekare bush by Stevens Lawson is designed around contemplation and retreat for a designer and his family Q&A with architect Nick Stevens and homeowners Dean Poole and Krista Dudson The site is steeply wooded – how difficult was it to find a spot to build on? Nick Stevens: It’s a very constrained site. There was already a little bench cut out of the hill with a couple of shacks on

This small Taupiri home makes a case for escaping the rat race

Architect Dan Smith and his wife Sam leave Auckland to build a small, crisp house in Taupiri, on the banks of the Waikato River This small Taupiri home makes a case for escaping the rat race In many ways, it’s a familiar story of a young couple wanting to own their first home and not being able to afford it in Auckland. Dan and Sam Smith, who both grew up in Hamilton, looked south and decided the

This tiny railway cottage renovation stands the test of time

Architect Ben Daly turns a plain 1950s railway cottage into something personal without losing its original spirit This tiny railway cottage renovation stands the test of time During three years living and re-working a house in Hawke’s Bay, architect Ben Daly struck up a close working and personal friendship with the artist Martin Poppelwell. The way Daly tells it, Poppelwell would say something, Daly would get offended, and then he’d go away and think about it. One

This little “granny flat” in Wellington is an Ernst Plishcke gem

A 1959 flat by Ernst Plischke above the garage of diplomats and art collectors Frank and Lyn Corner seems to expand well beyond its four small walls This little “granny flat” in Wellington is an Ernst Plishcke gem Wellington’s hillsides are famously dotted with the modernist creations of one of Austria’s greatest mid-century architects: Ernst Plischke’s white or pale blue-painted, flat-roofed pavilions can be seen popping above ridgelines or attached to hills around the city. Last year, in Thorndon

This bach in the Karekare bush is the perfect place to ‘switch-off’

A compact house in the Karekare bush by Stevens Lawson is designed around contemplation and retreat for a designer and his family This bach in the Karekare bush is the perfect place to ‘switch-off’ “I’m an obsessive worker,” says Dean Poole, a founder and director at design studio Alt Group. “It’s not like a job – we achieve a lot because we like working. But this is a total escape. As soon as you hit the

This home proves how an overlooked piece of land can be given new life

An enigmatic house by Tim Dorrington on an overlooked corner of land edges up to a creek, while turning its back on suburban neighbours Q&A with Tim Dorrington of Dorrington Atcheson Architects How did the stream dictate your design decisions? It meant concrete foundations were off the table right away. The ground level is probably a metre to two metres higher now than it was, so there’s quite a lot of cut and fill.

These architectural community houses promise to break the poverty cycle

Three architects come together to resourcefully design and build 10 community townhouses with rents that are only 25 percent of income Project ‘Triangle Road’ community housing Architects Strachan Group Location Massey, Auckland Brief Well-built, warm, dry homes with aspirational details. These architectural townhouses promise to break the poverty cycle True to his organisation’s name, Mark Woolley, who leads community housing provider VisionWest Community Trust, is a visionary about what a good home can do to transform

This small home is an inspiring answer to suburban living

This enigmatic house in Avondale by Tim Dorrington on an overlooked corner of land edges up to a creek, while turning its back on suburban neighbours This small home is an inspiring answer to suburban living Crunch around a corner in a long, ordinary gravel drive and there, abruptly, is an extraordinary house. It has heard you coming. It’s crouching behind a black wall made blacker by the shadows of ponga and kanuka. Architect Tim

‘MiniHut’ is a small prefab prototype that’s set to change the housing game

New Zealand architecture firm Bonnifait + Giesen have created a tiny prefab home that delivers high-quality architecture at a reasonable cost ‘MiniHut’ is a small prefab prototype that’s set to change the housing game Project ‘MiniHut’ prefab house Architect Bonnifait + Giesen Location Hangzhou, China Brief A small prefab house with quality architecture and efficient delivery. In essence, the latest prefabricated design by Wellington architects Cecile Bonnifait and William Giesen is a sort of apartment

How this new Waiheke Island home achieved such a striking exterior

With its chic black cladding and bright red door, this Waiheke home makes a statement. Watch to find out how this home achieved such a crisp, contemporary finish. [jwp-video n=”1″] Project: Palm Beach House Designer: Tony Smith Location: Waiheke Brief A laid-back island home where every room has sea views. How this new Waiheke Island home achieved such a striking exterior A long list of decisions needs to be considered when building a dream home.

This heritage villa has been renovated in the most respectful way

Architect Andrew Meiring has made family living easy with the respectful renovation of this heritage-listed villa. We talk to him about the project Q&A with Andrew Meiring of Andrew Meiring Architects You’re more accustomed to new builds – what did you enjoy about this renovation? Although this project had the scale of a new-build it was structurally and programmatically more complex than most new builds. When dealing with alterations, one spends a lot of time

This hilltop home at Lake Wanaka has distinct European style

Built in 1973 by freshly graduated architect Ashley Muir, this almost medieval home overlooking Lake Wanaka is still striking four decades on. We talk to Ashley about the unique project Q&A with Ashley Muir of Mason & Wales Architects Lois and Rolfe Mills were keen on a “young architect who listened”. How many houses did you have under your belt before this one? Lois and Rolfe, and another couple, provided the ultimate gift to a

The late David Mitchell’s last design was this wonderfully angular home

Both playful and rational with punchy yellow accents, the last house designed by the late David Mitchell is a bold feature in the Christchurch streetscape Q&A with Julian Mitchell of Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects Both owner and architect were sailors. How did that influence the design? Well, they got on really well for a start! While there are some nautical aspects to the house – such as the boat hull form over the main living

How a New Zealand architect converted a historic pub on the Thames

A New Zealand architect in London inserts a crisp apartment into a historic converted pub on the Thames. We talk to architect Giles Reid about the project Q&A with Giles Reid of Giles Reid Architects How do you feel the minimal style contrasts or compliments the existing building? I suppose I don’t altogether think that the work is that minimal. I felt a good response to this warehouse-like space was making a few elements, such

The respectful renovation of this Devonport villa celebrates its history

Architect Andrew Meiring adds to a heritage-listed Devonport villa with a playful assemblage of stone, wood, glass and concrete The respectful renovation of this Devonport villa celebrates its history In faded 1880s photographs of North Head Maungauika, Devonport, a white villa with a playful turret sits high on the hill. The house faces the township below and a farm track runs up its side. The history of the villa is as faded as the photographs,

This clever compound in Queenstown is the ultimate family getaway

Louise Wright of Assembly Architects discusses the design behind these two unique townhouses in Queenstown, which have become the ultimate family getaway Q&A with Louise Wright of Assembly Architects Your first job was to work out what was possible on the site – how did the brief evolve? The district plan enabled increased unit density on the site, so in the first instance the clients were keen to maximise the unit capability. However, the associated

A pre-1900s Georgian-style home gets a respectful kitchen renovation

See how Christopher Wood Architects seamlessly altered and restored this character home with pared-back modern style Project Mount Eden kitchen Architect Christopher Wood Architects Location Mt Eden, Auckland Brief To update the kitchen in this family home, ensuring it connects with the dining, living and outdoor areas. A pre-1900s Georgian-style home gets a respectful kitchen renovation The brief requested that the new space be in keeping with the home’s traditional character, while also providing a contemporary,

Assembly Architects’ latest design in Queenstown is a clever one

Assembly Architects design two homes instead of one for this extended family in central Queenstown. See why their compound solution was a clever idea. Why Assembly Architects’ latest design in Queenstown was a clever one If you live in Queenstown, the house on these pages will be distinctly familiar. Located on a busy back street used by locals to scoot around all that heady tourism in downtown Queenstown proper, it occupies a prominent corner a

How a Waiheke Island bathroom was designed to feel like a luxurious hotel

With a luxurious combination of intricately placed tiles, moody colours and brass detailing, the bathroom in this Waiheke Island home is epitome of style The overview Project ‘Lantern House’ bathroom Architect Herbst Architects Location Onetangi, Waiheke Island Brief Create an elegant, intimate bathroom that takes advantage of the sea view. How a Waiheke Island bathroom was designed to feel like a luxurious hotel When it came to designing their house at Onetangi on Waiheke Island,

Fashion label Kowtow opens sustainable new store in Wellington

A new store for clothing label Kowtow flies the flag for sustainability and refined design Fashion label Kowtow opens sustainable new store in Wellington When Gosia Piatek launched her fashion label Kowtow more than a decade ago, ethical and sustainable values were her foundation. The brand’s new flagship store in Te Aro, Wellington, continues the theme of conscious fashion and considered design. Working with interior architect Rufus Knight, Piatek has realised a simple yet generous

This kitchen designed by Mike Hartley is an open-plan dream

Thoughtful design and a showstopping choice of steel-grey stone makes this Auckland kitchen a hard wearing yet stylish space This kitchen designed by Mike Hartley is an open-plan dream Project Castor Bay kitchen Architect Mike Hartley, 13 Location Castor Bay, Auckland Brief To create an open-plan, light-filled living, dining and kitchen area for a young family. Mike Hartley was asked to create an open-plan, light-filled living, dining and kitchen area, upgrade its flow to an outdoor

This Lake Wanaka home designed by Ashley Muir has stood the test of time

In 1973, Ashley Muir designed a shadowy, almost medieval house for wine pioneers Rolfe and Lois Mills. Four decades on, it’s no less powerful This Lake Wanaka home designed by Ashley Muir has stood the test of time Farmhouses rarely excite architectural controversy – at least, not at the level occasioned by this home, built 45-odd years ago at Rippon, on the western shore of Lake Wanaka, for the pioneering winemaking Mills family. Anchored to

How a small bathroom was squeezed under the eaves of a gable roof

Guy Tarrant had many constraints in designing this Mt Eden home, not least fitting three bedrooms and two bathrooms under the eaves of a gabled roof The overview Project Mt Eden bathroom Architect Guy Tarrant Architects Location Mt Eden, Auckland Brief Fit a bathroom under the eaves of a raking gabled roof. How architect Guy Tarrant overcame the structural constraints of this home Guy Tarrant had many constraints in designing this Mt Eden home, not

This home at Moncks Bay in Christchurch is both playful and rational

At Moncks Bay in Christchurch, the last house designed by the late David Mitchell is both playful and rational This home at Moncks Bay in Christchurch is both playful and rational The welcome mat at Olle and Clare Enberg’s seaside Christchurch home hints at a couple of things to expect beyond the front door. Woven, improbably, from 46 metres of rope into an endless Turk’s Head knot, it’s a nod to the subtle maritime theme

See how this New Zealand architect converted a pub into a crisp apartment

A New Zealand architect in London inserts a crisp apartment into an historic converted pub on the Thames See how this New Zealand architect converted a pub into a crisp apartment That on a good day, you can look due east to the city with glimpses of the Shard from this property in southwest London is a strange twist of poetry. New Zealand architect Giles Reid devoted seven years of his life to the UK’s tallest

A ’70s kitchen gets a new streamlined look by using handle-less cabinetry

A sleek, streamlined look was key when it came to updating this 1970s kitchen. We find out how Blum’s handle-less cabinetry made this stylish look possible [jwp-video n=”1″] A ’70s kitchen gets a new streamlined look by using handle-less cabinetry ‘Form follows function’ is a maxim that has inspired many. But what does it mean when 21st century ideas about kitchen design meet a semi-iconic 1970s home? The ’70s saw some classic homes built in

This chic black-clad home in Nelson was designed to soak up the view

The bolthole of a busy couple in Walter’s Bluff, Nelson, this home features large windows to lap up the vista, an enclosed deck for drinks, and an exterior hardy enough to weather the breeze This chic black-clad home in Nelson was designed to soak up the view Designer: Tony Karsten Location: Nelson Brief: A new home designed to maximise spectacular sea views “Every room had to have views if we could,” says the designer, Tony Karsten of Karsten

What it was like to design New Zealand’s Best Small Home

Monastic yet welcoming, this small home shows the power of contained design. We speak to architect and owner, Braden Harford, about his award-winning home [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Braden Harford of Maguire and Harford Architects What were the main considerations in designing your own home? I tried to imagine how I wanted to live in the house – what would it be like sitting on the sofa, or what am I looking at standing behind

What it was like to judge the houses in Home of the Year 2018

HOME Editor Simon Farrell-Green gives us personal account of the whirlwind Home of the Year 2018 judges’ journey. Find out what the judges thought of each of the finalists and winning homes Home of the Year Winner – Piha, Auckland Project: ‘Kawakawa House’ Practice: Herbst Architects Location: Piha, West Auckland After a mad dash around a few projects in central Auckland, we visited Piha at the end of our first day of judging. There was traffic

You’ll feel inspired after taking a tour through this Piha holiday home

Sitting up on steel plinths with a sheltered internal courtyard, discover how Herbst Architects have taken a standard footprint and cleverly twisted it in on itself to create this incredible holiday home [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Lance Herbst of Herbst Architects What was the brief like? The brief was quite straightforward. The clients essentially wanted a beach house with a main bedroom, guest bedroom and a bunkroom for overflow. But they put a lot of faith

This family holiday home in Hanmer Springs feels like a fun campsite

By designing three separate spaces instead of one building, Cymon Allfrey was able to create a unique getaway that inspires genuine holiday living [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Cymon Allfrey of Cymon Allfrey Architects How is the bach the antithesis of your townhouse? We were focused on creating a home that disrupts the normal patterns of life. The bach has a way of bringing us together: eating as a family, board games and backyard cricket. I

This award-winning home on Waiheke Island is a house of high drama

This award-winning home has an incredible interior with polished black floors, black timber ceiling and striking furniture and finishes sourced from Asia [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Lance Herbst of Herbst Architects Owner Andrew Glenn sees an Asian influence in your work, and that’s certainly present here. A lot of people see those influences in our work – it’s not deliberate, it’s just that we think about how wood goes together, which is what Japanese people do.

How this Wellington home achieved the suburban dream of privacy

Despite being enclosed by eight neighbours, this award-winning home manages to achieve privacy with an ingenious interior courtyard [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Andrew Sexton of Andrew Sexton Architecture The site is flat, for Wellington, but surrounded by neighbours. What were your initial thoughts? Our initial sketches were for a two-storey home on a smaller portion of the site, with the possibility of adding a studio room in future. We were attempting to maximise the usable

How Architect Guy Tarrant created a modern villa to fit into a heritage street

Architect Guy Tarrant discusses the design concepts behind his commended contemporary home and how he managed to maintain the rhythm of the surrounding heritage streetscape [jwp-video n=”1″] How Architect Guy Tarrant created a modern villa to fit into a heritage street Q&A with Guy Tarrant The street is mostly occupied by villas and bungalows. How did you work to integrate a contemporary building into these surroundings? I wanted the design to respect and echo the

A thoughtful renovation has allowed this clifftop home to celebrate its view

A thoughtful extension has given new light and shape to a clifftop house overlooking Cox’s Bay. Discover how generous spaces and custom touches have created a restful retreat A thoughtful renovation has allowed this clifftop home to celebrate its view The owners have just returned from holiday and they couldn’t be happier to be home. With a tranquil view of Coxs Bay in Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour, and light filtered through pōhutukawa, their newly renovated home is

A classic 1970s home in the bush is brought back to its former glory

Claude Megson’s ‘Green House’ nestled in the bush is a classic piece of New Zealand architecture. See how its new owner is honouring its original design Q&A with owner Rafik Patel As a spatial-design lecturer, what lessons can we learn from Megson? How the inter-relationship of spaces with regards to the x, y, and z axis make for an environment that continually has you discovering new things about its architecture as you live in it

This family wasn’t afraid to make a bold statement in their Kohimarama home

Dorrington Atcheson Architects design a complex home in the middle of suburbia which challenges the concept of what a family home should look like Q&A with Tim Dorrington of Dorrington Atcheson Architects What were the main challenges you faced building in the heart of suburbia? Making sure the concept was compliant with the planning controls. These were fairly onerous due to the slope of the site and the position of some of the retaining walls

This award-winning holiday home in Piha floats amongst the pōhutukawa

Designed by award winning architects Lance and Nicola Herbst, this Piha holiday home floats among the pōhutukawa. At once elemental and polished, it’s a striking response to a difficult site [jwp-video n=”1″] As you drive along Marine Parade at North Piha to our Home of the Year 2018, designed by Lance and Nicola Herbst of Herbst Architects, you notice two things. Firstly the trees: ancient pōhutukawa, their massive boughs twisted and gnarled, carpet the hills

A stunning clifftop home on Waiheke wins Best Interior at Home of the Year

On a vertiginous site above Onetangi beach on Waiheke Island, Lance and Nicola Herbst create their most layered home yet [jwp-video n=”1″] A stunning clifftop home on Waiheke wins Best Interior at Home of the Year The night Andrew Glenn and Jonathan Rutherfurd Best moved into their house above Onetangi beach, the Easter moon came up at dusk, square in the middle of the picture window that runs the length of their living room. “Right there,”

Why the design of 2008 Home of the Year finalist is more relevant today

Marshall Cook clearly expressed his own well-formed language in his contemporary family home on a tight inner-city site. With its ideas for mixed use, communal-style living and courtyard design, this home is more relevant today than ever Why the design of 2008 Home of the Year finalist is more relevant today Project: Franklin Road Townhouse Architect: Marshall Cook Location: Auckland In September, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy with $853 billion in debt, as the world spiralled

How clever design helped this Wanaka home to take in the incredible views

With Altherm Window Systems as the key sponsor for the ninth year, Home of the Year continues to celebrate New Zealand’s leading residential architecture. But the brand’s support for architects’ visions happens all year-round, as this project in Wanaka shows How clever design helped this Wanaka home to take in the incredible views Project: ‘Lakeview’ house Practice: McAuliffe Stevens Location: Wanaka, Central Otago From urban to rural, family home to bachelor pad, city penthouse to

Kristina Pickford reworks her classic 1920s apartment with timeless design

A stroll away from Waitematā Harbour, is Kristina Pickford’s heritage apartment. Here’s how she brought mid-century moments and timeless design to the space Kristina Pickford reworks her classic 1920s apartment with timeless design Strange layout and lowered ceilings aside, what attracted you to the place? We wanted an apartment in the true centre of Auckland and a heritage building was our preferred option. We spent one weekend looking at various inner-city apartments and took no

A look back at the timeless design of this Home of the Year 2003 finalist

We look back fifteen years to a home that was designed by Hugh Tennent. With a lodge-like sensibility, we rediscover how this home bends and contours to its bush-clad site to maximise sun Take a look back at Hugh Tennent’s Home of the Year 2003 finalist Project: Split Apple Rock House Architect: Hugh Tennent Location: Kaiteriteri On April 24, New Zealand’s population hit four million. Ahmed Zaoui was declared to be a genuine asylum seeker. And the Supreme

An incredible treetop home by Architect Claude Megson is gently restored

Spatial-design lecturer Rafik Patel strips back the faux additions to his Claude Megson home to reveal a theatrical space An incredible treetop home by Architect Claude Megson is gently restored Even the most rudimentary research on architect Claude Megson throws up the fact that he was something of an egotist. His houses say as much. Designed mainly in the 60s and 70s, they are brazenly distinctive. The son of a builder, Megson thumbed his nose at

Why this 1998 Home of the Year finalist is an example of good architecture

We look back twenty years ago to when Tim Need bought a house under order for demolition and salvaged the materials to build his own home. We find out how successful architecture provokes a response Why this 1998 Home of the Year finalist is an example of good architecture Project: Breaker Bay Architect: Tim Nees Location: Wellington Prime TV made its first transmission; Christine Fletcher beat Les Mills in the Auckland mayoralty; Christian Cullen won the New Zealand Trotting

A family getaway in Hanmer Springs shows us how to do things differently

On the outskirts of Hanmer Springs, this family holiday home draws on memories of camp grounds and small alpine buildings. [jwp-video n=”1″] A family getaway in Hanmer Springs shows us how to do things differently He might be an experienced Christchurch architect, but Cymon Allfrey made a rookie error when designing his family bach at Hanmer: he forgot he had a client. “As a family, we had discussed what we’d like out of a holiday house in

A contemporary home in Mt Eden rethinks the traditional villa form

Discover how Architect Guy Tarrant has negotiated a tricky heritage overlay to create a contemporary house very much at home on a street of villas [jwp-video n=”1″] A contemporary home in Mt Eden rethinks the traditional villa form What would a villa look like if it was designed nowadays? What shapes would a bay window and a verandah take when refracted through a contemporary architect’s lens? A brand-new home in a quiet street in the

New Zealand’s best city home manages to feel private in a busy setting

Surrounded by neighbours, down a long driveway, a courtyard home by Andrew Sexton Architecture more than overcomes its infill site [jwp-video n=”1″] New Zealand’s best city home manages to feel private in a busy setting It took imagination to see it. Could you take an infill section encircled by neighbours, lying at the bottom of a snaking, vertiginous driveway, and make it the setting for a home so private it almost feels like a hideaway?

A compact concrete house is named New Zealand’s Best Small Home

Monastic yet welcoming, this small home in Christchurch by Braden Harford, of Maguire and Harford Architects, shows the power of contained design [jwp-video n=”1″] A compact concrete house is named New Zealand’s Best Small Home There’s not much art on the walls of Braden Harford’s home, and what there is has had to “fight” to get in, says the owner-architect – although the metaphor seems altogether too rowdy for this serene, 85-square-metre townhouse. Set on

Henri Sayes on how he added a seamless extension to a 1930s Deco home

Architect Henri Sayes discusses the careful line he walked to add a respectful extension to this 1930s duplex state house Henri Sayes on how he added a seamless extension to a 1930s Deco home Project: Duplex Extension Architect: Henri Sayes Location: Pt Chevalier, Auckland Brief: Extend a 1930s duplex state house to provide a living space, new kitchen and en suite. Q&A with Henri Sayes of Sayes Studio There was a lot wrong with the

A white brick home in Coromandel town artfully gets back to basics

Inspired by a nearby cemetery, architect Ken Crosson designs simple yet sculptural home outside Coromandel town that contrasts with the landscape A white brick home in Coromandel town artfully gets back to basics A few years ago, Deborah Hide-Bayne and Duncan Bayne bought a corner acre of land just outside Coromandel town. They went looking for an architect to build them a home but continually came up short, finding every project they loved was built

How Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural concepts inspired this villa redesign

Eva and Kate, of Rogan Nash Architects, reveal why Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural concepts of compression and release inspired the redesign of this villa How Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural concepts inspired this villa redesign Project: Villa renovation Architect: Rogan Nash Architects Location: Grey Lynn, Auckland Brief: To correct a misguided renovation and open up the urban site to its potential Q&A with Eva Nash and Kate Rogan of Rogan Nash Architects The gallery space is key

How a 1920s apartment in Auckland’s CBD was returned to its former glory

The sensitive renovation of this 1920s apartment is an ode to its building’s heritage character. See why this couple’s well-versed design sensibility helped to restore the space How a 1920s apartment in Auckland’s CBD was returned to its former glory Entering Kristina Pickford and Michael Wolfe’s apartment in central Auckland’s historic Dilworth building, your eye is immediately drawn to an exquisite stool placed in the corner of the living room. It’s a stool made familiar

This solid concrete home reimagines what a family home should look like

Robust, angular and with a modern industrialist feel, this family home by Dorrington Atcheson Architects challenges the concept of suburban living This solid concrete home reimagines what a family home should look like In a neighbourhood where the front wall and pool are emblems of suburban family living, enigmatic architecture may be hard to find. Yet this home, with an entrance along a curved sleeper pathway between landscaped mounds, delivers surprise from start to finish.

What do Glenfiddich and Home of the Year have in common?

Just like the winner of Home of the Year, Glenfiddich is an example of pure craftsmanship and design. Glenfiddich is proud to support Home of the Year 2018 [jwp-video n=”1″] What do Glenfiddich and Home of the Year have in common? In 1887, William Grant fulfilled a lifelong ambition by establishing his own distillery in Dufftown, Scotland. A century and a bit later, Glenfiddich is one of the few remaining family-owned distilleries, with a focus

Why the restoration of this Grey Lynn villa is a lesson in considered design

Discover how Rogan Nash have deftly directed this Grey Lynn villa in an exciting new direction by opening it up to its site Why the restoration of this Grey Lynn villa is a lesson in considered design Project: Villa renovation Architect: Rogan Nash Architects Location: Grey Lynn, Auckland Brief: To correct a misguided renovation and open up the urban site to its potential. When this villa on a prominent street in Grey Lynn was under

This Wellington villa is the perfect example of a respectful renovation

With no connection to the outdoors and a rabbit warren of disconnected rooms, this Wellington villa was in dire need of a change. See how Architect Mary Daish updated the space without compromising its character This Wellington villa is the perfect example of a respectful renovation Project: Villa renovation Architect: Mary Daish Location: Mt Victoria, Wellington Brief: Create a cohesive kitchen-dining space with an outdoor connection. It was a familiar conundrum: when the owners of

The subtle renovation of this bach at Bethells Beach celebrates ’80s style

Architect Gerrad Hall updates a family bach from the ’80s on Auckland’s west coast by subtly weaving the same language through the design The subtle renovation of this bach at Bethells Beach celebrates ’80s style Project: Family bach Architect: Gerrad Hall Location: West Auckland Brief: Extend an 80s bach to be in keeping with its retrospective era and location. There’s no big reveal here. A humble beach home sits on a flat site on an unsealed shared-access

See all the inspiring winners from Home of the Year 2018

From a small concrete home in Christchurch to an impressive treetop retreat in Piha, we round up all the incredible winners from Home of the Year 2018 [jwp-video n=”1″] The winner of Home of the Year 2018 and Best Retreat: Kawakawa House by Herbst Architects Nestled in a pohutukawa grove in Piha, the winner of Home of the Year 2018 is a thoughtful response to a tricky site. Sitting up on steel plinths with a sheltered

This black-clad Wanaka home brings contemporary style to a rustic setting

Discover how this stylish Wanaka home has taken the form of a ski chalet and used chic black cladding to give it a cool, contemporary twist Project: ‘Alpine’ house Designer: Tony Bennett Location: Wanaka, Central Otago Brief: A new home is built to maximise views and fit into a mountain environment. This black-clad Wanaka home brings contemporary style to a rustic setting Overlooking the ranges leading to Mount Aspiring National Park and a short walk from Wanaka town centre,

Home of the Year 2018: Kawakawa House

Following a nationwide search HOME has announced the winner of Home of the Year 2018. Introducing the winner of Home of the Year 2018 We are delighted to bring you the winner of Home of the Year 2018. Kawakawa House by Herbst Architects Floating amongst the pohutukawa on a tricky site in Piha, the Home of the Year 2018 is an elegant response to a tough site. Find out more about this winning project that

An inside look at all the finalists from Home of the Year 2018

Check out the inspiring homes that made the finalists in Home of the Year 2018 [jwp-video n=”1″] Cymon Allfrey designs a unique bach for his family in Hanmer Springs Comprised of three independent structures that centre around a sunken terrace, the sixth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is an interesting one. Take a tour through this unique interpretation of a bach and hear what impressed HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green, and fellow judges Mel Bright and Nicholas

The sixth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is a unique family bach

Clustered around a central courtyard like a ‘camp’, this family retreat in Hanmer Springs is an interesting take on a bach. Take a tour through our last finalist in Home of the Year 2018 [jwp-video n=”1″] The sixth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is a unique family bach Comprised of three independent structures that centre around a sunken terrace, the sixth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is an interesting one. Take

The fifth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is a spectacular treetop home

Nestled in a pohutukawa grove in Piha, the fifth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is a striking example of architecture. [jwp-video n=”1″] The fifth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is a spectacular treetop home Floating amongst the pohutukawa on a tricky site in Piha, the fifth finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is an elegant response to a tough site. Discover the ingenious way this beach house battles the elements