Homes Archives

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

The third finalist for Home of the Year 2018 is a small courtyard home

Introducing the third finalist for Home of the Year 2018 – a small courtyard home in Wellington that manages to create a sense of privacy despite being on a tricky site with lots of neighbours [jwp-video n=”1″] The third finalist for Home of the Year 2018 is a small courtyard home in Wellington From a contemporary home in Auckland to a clifftop retreat on Waiheke Island, the finalists for Home of the Year 2018 have

The second finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is an incredible clifftop home

The second finalist for Home of the Year 2018 is an incredible clifftop home on Waiheke Island that takes architectural design to the next level [jwp-video n=”1″] The second finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is an incredible clifftop home We are delighted to bring you the second piece of inspiring architecture that has made the finalists for Home of the Year 2018. Following an intense week of judging with Mel Bright and Nicholas Stevens,

The first finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is revealed

We begin the countdown to Home of the Year 2018. Watch and find out which incredible home was the first to make it into the final six [jwp-video n=”1″] The first finalist in Home of the Year 2018 is an urban sanctuary in Auckland The first finalist for Home of the Year has set the bar high. Found in a quiet, leafy street in Auckland, this contemporary haven is beautifully detailed. HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green discusses what

A ’50s stucco house in Paekākāriki transforms into a modern family home

A ’50s stucco house in Paekākāriki transforms into a modern family home Project: Ralph family home Architect: Bonnifait+Giesen Location: Paekākāriki Brief: To transform a 50s stucco home for contemporary family life. If a ship sets sail for a voyage, where every wooden plank needs to be replaced or restored along the way, is the craft that eventually returns to shore still the same ship? Theseus’ paradox puzzled the ancient Greeks and it’s just as relevant today.

The design of this bach was surprisingly inspired by Greek village homes

Harsh weather conditions and the owner’s desire for a stripped back aesthetic inspired the design of this Hawke’s Bay bach. Architect Gerald Parsonson discusses how the house was influenced by Greek style buildings The design of this bach was surprisingly inspired by Greek village homes How did you manage building on the ‘slippy’ land? Matt and Adie have planted many trees, particularly uphill. A small retaining wall surrounding the west pergola/deck area was built uphill

This Waiheke home traded privacy to take advantage of panoramic views

Architect Dominic Glamuzina dicusses his once-controversial design on Waiheke Island and why letting go of the idea of privacy was worth it This Waiheke home traded privacy to take advantage of panoramic views The top storey has a twisted angularity to provide various views from the bedrooms but, obviously, when you take advantage of a view, you allow yourself to be viewed. How do you manage that balance? Absolutely, there is a total trade-off. But

How the extension of this 1930s duplex state house retained a heritage feel

Architect Henri Sayes was careful to blur the lines between new and old in the extension of this duplex in Point Chevalier. Discover how he created a sympathetic modern addition How the extension of this 1930s duplex state house retained a heritage feel 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. “Essentially, it was a one-bedroom

This 100-year-old Herne Bay villa has received a sympathetic update

The small changes made by architect Megan Edward’s in this villa renovation have made a big impact to to its feel and function This 100-year-old Herne Bay villa has received a sympathetic update Project: Villa renovation Architect: Megan Edwards Location: Herne Bay, Auckland Brief: Redesign living spaces and create new connections to the outdoors. In a street lined with heritage homes in Herne Bay, Megan Edwards has sympathetically renovated a 1900s villa, creating a sophisticated

This series of modern farm buildings were designed to challenge ideas

Gerrad Hall designed this series of modern farm buildings for collaborative clients near Mangawhai. Discover how they challenge ideas of design and privacy Q&A with Gerrad Hall of Gerrad Hall Architects How did the conversation about the homage to farm buildings evolve? My clients were interested in breaking the program into several buildings and investigating different themes in each. I could see the potential of allowing quite a large range of architectural, spatial and detail

Taihoa is one of the last remaining tramping huts in the Orongorongo Valley

This private tramping hut in the Orongorongo valley is the epitome of the kind of vernacular that inspires so many modern pieces of New Zealand architecture Q&A with architect Philip Porritt How did you get the material to such an isolated site? The bulk came up the Orongorongo River in an old army truck in December, 56 years ago. We had collected materials and dumped them on Gwenda’s parents’ lawn. Whatever we could borrow or

A beachfront bach in the Hawke’s Bay is designed to shelter from the wind

Architect Gerald Parsonson designs a bach in the Hawke’s Bay that provides places to sit in the sun, and places to retreat from the wind A beachfront bach in the Hawke’s Bay is designed to shelter from the wind On the wall in the den of Adie and Matthew McClelland’s Hawke’s Bay bach, there’s a small Dick Frizzell painting entitled ‘Mangakuri’. It depicts a little old greeny-blue weatherboard cottage: pitched roof and deep, covered verandah. The couple

The 2018 Home of the Year shortlist: See the 12 homes that made the cut

After much deliberation, the Home of the Year judges have narrowed down the list to 12 homes. Get an inside look at this year’s shortlist and discover what corners of the country they’ll be visiting for an intensive week of judging [jwp-video n=”1″] The 2018 Home of the Year shortlist: See the 12 homes that made the cut Here they are! In December last year, the three judges for Home of the Year 2018 sat

A controversial copper-clad Waiheke home has softened with age

Once highly contested, this challenging house above Matiatia has softened into the Waiheke Island landscape, without losing its edge A controversial copper-clad Waiheke home has softened with age Ten years ago, when this Waiheke house designed by Dominic Glamuzina was completed, a local man running for local council called it a “crime against humanity” on his campaign flyer. Waiheke residents can be critical of any new architecture on the island, betraying a tension between social progressivism and

This modern Mangawhai home puts a unique spin on farmhouse style

Architect Gerrad Hall designs a subtle group of farm-inspired structures that expertly balances complex combinations of materials and style This modern Mangawhai home puts a unique spin on farmhouse style Mangawhai is one of those pretty east coast spots within striking distance of Auckland: inevitably, this has led to a lot of new subdivisions. But out the back of town, there’s still a secluded, private spot the locals simply call ‘Tara’: a long, winding stretch

Why the design of this bach in Peka Peka is deceptively simple

Nestled amongst native trees on a protected Peka Peka site, this special getaway by architect John Melhuish was a bit tricky to design Q&A with John Melhuish of Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects The Kāpiti district plan protects much of the bush site between the road and the house. Did this make for a difficult build? No, but we had to be careful with the trees and it was a little tricky design-wise. The line where

A treetop retreat on Waiheke Island was inspired by classic Kiwi bach style

Jackie and Tim Feather wanted a getaway with a close connection to nature and a traditional Kiwi bach feel. Here’s how architect Vaughn McQuarrie nailed their brief in spite of the steep, south-facing site A treetop retreat on Waiheke Island celebrates Kiwi bach vernacular “Vaughn said we had given him one of the most comprehensive briefs he’d ever had. We didn’t realise it was comprehensive. This is the first house that my husband Tim and

Keen trampers built this hut in Orongorongo Valley with their bare hands

A private tramping hut in the Orongorongo Valley embodies the prelapsarian spirit of the people who built it by hand 56 years ago Keen trampers built this hut in Orongorongo Valley with their bare hands There can be few buildings in New Zealand that embody friendship quite so profoundly and quite so uniquely as tiny ‘Taihoa’. The private tramping hut, built by school mates more than half a lifetime ago, has been both source and sustenance

A small apartment kitchen is redesigned with architectural precision

A small galley kitchen presents as a collection of furniture thanks to the custom-designed walnut cabinetry and skillful balance of minimalism and function A small apartment kitchen is redesigned with architectural precision Architects: Nat Cheshire and Ian Scott, Cheshire Architects Location: Auckland Brief: For the design to work in as a sister piece of furniture with the owners’ collection. Briefly describe the project. Nat Cheshire A kitchen more like furniture than building. Owners Jeremy Hansen

Herbst Architects design a rich oak and copper kitchen in a Muriwai home

Timber and copper contrast against this Muriwai home’s pristine gallery-white walls. Architect Nicola Herbst describes the details behind the design Herbst Architects design a rich oak and copper kitchen in a Muriwai home Architects: Herbst Architects Location: Muriwai, West Auckland Brief: As a key part of the home’s beating centre, the kitchen needed to strike the right chord in tone and texture. Briefly describe the project. Nicola Herbst: The house is an exercise in extraversion

This lofty Auckland apartment nails industrial warehouse style

In her open plan Auckland apartment, Sarah Hopkinson has nailed warehouse-style living. She discusses why it was important to have a light-industrial space This lofty Auckland apartment nails industrial warehouse style Q&A with Sarah Hopkinson What was the space like before you moved in and what did you have to do? Before we took on the premises, it was studios and a band practice room – it had a rich patina! Our very patient landlord gutted

How a Hahei beach house balances enviable views with private living

Architect Paul Clarke discusses the beautiful balance he’s created between public and private living in this Hahei beach house Q&A with Paul Clarke of Studio2 Architects It’s definitely not a bach, but how did you make it feel different to the city? It was about detail and materiality and creating different spaces for different occasions and experiences. The shutters are key to the design. Why were they so important? They allow for the house to

How the kitchen design of this small Christchurch home maximises space

We discover how a material crisp palette and integrated design has allowed architect Tobin Smith to create a seamless living space in his small Christchurch home How the kitchen design of this small Christchurch home maximises space Designer: Tobin Smith, CoLab Location: Christchurch Brief: Create a continuous piece of joinery to merge kitchen with living. Describe the project in three lines. This kitchen is designed to maximise storage and usable work space within a small living

A family holiday home finds shelter and privacy in the Peka Peka bush

A Peka Peka holiday home turns its back on the ocean in favour of shelter and native trees behind the dunes. We discover why… A family holiday home finds shelter and privacy in the Peka Peka bush If you’ve ever tramped the country’s great walks, you’ll know this feeling well. After a long day spent in the dripping rainforest of the Milford track or the rustling beech on the Routeburn, you begin longing for the sight

Get to know the work of Home of the Year 2018 judge Mel Bright

Meet Mel Bright; HOME New Zealand’s international judge for Home of the Year 2018. Bright speaks in Wellington on February 13 and Auckland on February 15 for our Home of the Year 2018 lectures, brought to you by Altherm Window Systems. Here, she discusses her work and how green spaces are driving her projects. Get to know the work of Home of the Year 2018 judge Mel Bright Mel Bright, our international judge for Home of the Year

Contemporary art takes centre stage in this lofty Grey Lynn apartment

Inside her Grey Lynn apartment, gallerist Sarah Hopkinson shows us how to live in harmony with challenging contemporary art Contemporary art takes centre stage in this lofty Grey Lynn apartment Even for dedicated appreciators, a relationship with contemporary art is usually divided into two distinct contexts: the home, where paintings, drawings and prints hang on walls and we come to know them in detailed, intimate ways; and galleries and museums, where sculptures, installations, performances and

Inside a remarkable home designed by celebrated architect Peter Bohlin

Designed by the architect who created the iconic glass Apple store in New York, this monolithic home provides the perfect backdrop for a very special art collection Q&A with Cathy Shyer You’ve owned the house for 18 years, what has it revealed to you over that time? The design is simple and that’s its brilliance. The light and openness is breathtaking. Are there other designs by the architect Peter Bohlin that you admire? The Fifth

A young architect designs a sloping bach in Langs Beach for her parents

Emma Morris designs a beach house for her parents David and Lien Morris – their first architectural home and one they share with extended family A young architect designs a sloping bach in Langs Beach for her parents “We bought the section 10 years ago and I said to Emma, “It’s going to stay empty until you come back [from London] and we want you to design the house for us.” That was the understanding,

Inside an angular cedar beach house nestled into the Hahei sand dunes

Making an appearance on the Home of the Year 2017 shortlist, this beach house by Paul Clarke brings drama and intrigue to the sand dunes of Hahei Inside an angular cedar beach house nestled into the Hahei sand dunes They’ve been coming to Hahei for 25 years and you can see why. Initially to the campground, then to rented baches before buying an aging Lockwood on the beachfront with spectacular views to Mercury Bay. It’s the

This dreamy new-build has expertly balanced refined and rustic style

A soaring farmhouse-style gable and thoughtful use of rough, raw materials give this new-build in Point Wells an organic, rustic feel Q&A with with architects Steven Lloyd and Aaron Paterson How did you make sense of the flat field? Aaron Paterson: The site meant the house could have dominated the landscape. To prevent this we created a cluster of buildings to break down the mass and give the house a village-like intimacy around courtyards and

This sandstone cottage expertly mixes heritage and modernist style

In Sydney, Simon Devitt finds Derek Henderson in a century-old cottage with a mid-century twist, furnished with art made by friends This sandstone cottage expertly mixes heritage and modernist style The home of New Zealand born, Sydney-based art photographer Derek Henderson sits on a leafy Bondi street, behind a brick wall that contains a cool, verdant courtyard. Henderson and his wife Kate Austin, with their children Theodore and Lola, moved here almost five years ago,

A windowless bathroom in a small apartment is given a luxurious redesign

The small windowless bathroom found in this modest apartment has been transformed with rich oak and brass accents into a surprising sanctuary A windowless bathroom in a small apartment is given a luxurious redesign Architect: Nat Cheshire and Ian Scott, Cheshire Architects Location: Freemans Bay, Auckland Brief: The architects surprised the owners with this jewel-like space. Describe the project in two sentences. Nat Cheshire: I guess we wanted to move the bathroom away from an

A cedar clad home in Muriwai is designed around a sensitive nikau glade

Sitting in an ecologically sensitive area, this beach house by Herbst Architects mimics the surround nikau trees with stained bark-like cedar cladding Q&A with architect Nicola Herbst of Herbst Architects A sizeable portion of the site falls under the protection of a Significant Ecological Area (SEA), which protects indigenous biodiversity. How did that influence your design? Essentially, no building work is allowed in an SEA, so to some extent this affected the shape of the footprint. The

Cheshire Architects flawlessly redesign a small modernist apartment

Cheshire Architects impeccably redesign a small modernist apartment in Auckland for Paperboy editor Jeremy Hansen and his husband [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Nat Cheshire and Ian Scott of Cheshire Architects Why was it important to you to take on this project? Nat Cheshire: Jeremy and Cameron’s apartment is the latest in a string of very small projects we’ve built in the last few years, clients who have all been so brave and are very precious to

Inside the modernist Titirangi home of photographer Simon Devitt

Tucked away in Titirangi is the humble modernist home of celebrated New Zealand photographer Simon Devitt. His old friend Derek Henderson documents the recently renovated space Inside the modernist Titirangi home of photographer Simon Devitt Simon Devitt doesn’t know who designed his house, which sits in a secluded valley in Titirangi, Auckland. The records of the local area are patchy, and no one can tell him if it was a builder with architectural influence or an

This Auckland bathroom used rich materials to create a refined experience

The ensuite in this robust Auckland home uses a warm palette of materials to create a sense of occasion and make bathing more than just a functional act This Auckland bathroom used rich materials to create a refined experience Architect: Dave Strachan, Strachan Group Architects Location: Mt Eden, Auckland Brief: To create a refined experience and capture the outdoors in an urban setting. Describe the project in two sentences. The design focused on making the act of bathing

Inside former HOME editor Jeremy Hansen’s modernist apartment

Cheshire Architects refit a small, modernist apartment in Freeman’s Bay for former HOME editor Jeremy Hansen and his husband [jwp-video n=”1″] Inside former HOME editor Jeremy Hansen’s modernist apartment There was something about the 72-square-metre apartment that, when he moved in two years ago, was making Jeremy Hansen claustrophobic. The former editor of HOME magazine had bought an apartment in one of Freemans Bay’s ‘Star Flats’ – so named for the buildings’ star-shaped plans –

How an impressive collection of Maori art ended up in a Connecticut home

An expat New Zealander and her husband bring together Māori artefacts and contemporary art in a classic 1970s Connecticut lake house How an impressive collection of Maori art ended up in a Connecticut home Leafy, pastoral and populated with gracious Victorian-era buildings, the small, quiet town of Salisbury in north-west Connecticut has historic credentials dating back to the mid-1700s, and is known for being the home of America’s first public library. Life in its adjacent

This bathroom design was influenced by mid-century and Japanese details

The mid-century design and Japanese details found in this Auckland home inspired this bathroom renovation’s considered, artisan aesthetic Designer: Katie Lockhart Studio Location: Northcote, Auckland Brief: Reference the home’s modernist roots while updating the bathrooms to cater to a young family. Describe the project in three lines. Our house is a mid-century farm house on a former pumpkin farm. We are gradually renovating the interior to suit our family’s needs, but we always bring our choices

How minimalist design took this small bathroom to the next level

Floor to ceiling tiles and refined function create a generous feeling of space in this small Christchurch bathroom. Tobin Smith discusses how he streamlined his design How minimalist design took this small bathroom to the next level Designer: Tobin Smith, CoLab Architecture Location: Christchurch Brief: An efficient bathroom with luxurious touches in the designer’s own home. Describe the project in two sentences. Our bathroom is a model of efficiency that aims to accommodate the essentials

This modern farmhouse in Point Wells celebrates subtle crafted detail

This modern farmhouse on the harbour at Point Wells was designed around the collections of a lifetime and the rhythms of rural life This modern farmhouse in Point Wells celebrates subtle crafted detail The village of Point Wells is surrounded on three sides by water, across the Whangateau Harbour from the beach-side settlement of Omaha. It’s a sleepy, estuarine place: one road in, one road out; big trees, a store and some lovely chunks of tidal

This crisp dark cedar home by Herbst Architects floats in the trees

Lance and Nicola Herbst design a crisp house at Muriwai around art, books and some beautiful native trees This crisp dark cedar home by Herbst Architects floats in the trees Brian Carter and Clare Bradley had lived for the best part of the past two decades in a five-bedroom house in Remuera, Auckland, but the children had grown up, gone to university and, as Carter puts it, he “didn’t want to die in Remuera”. Carter,

This open plan kitchen in Mahurangi is masterfully detailed

With no demarcation, this kitchen merges seamlessly as part of the living area. Discover the details behind architect Belinda George’s award-winning home This open plan kitchen in Mahurangi is masterfully detailed Architect: Belinda George Location: Mahurangi Brief: A kitchen at the centre of family life, placed in the living room and requiring the same aesthetic. Tell us about the use of reclaimed timber. The kitchen is made from solid river rimu. It was recovered from

Step inside the open plan kitchen of award-winning architect Guy Tarrant

At his previous home, Architect Guy Tarrant designed a beautiful oak kitchen with honed granite benches that’s replicated almost exactly in his new space Step inside the open plan kitchen of award-winning architect Guy Tarrant Architect: Guy Tarrant Location: Pt Chevalier, Auckland Brief: A kitchen as a backdrop to the main living area; a piece of furniture within the space. The kitchen is detailed yet restrained. What pleases you most about it? We love the combination of oak,

Home of the Year 2018 entries are now open

Do you have the next Home of the Year? Entries to New Zealand’s most prestigious residential architecture awards are now open [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year 2018 entries are now open Home of the Year is the country’s most prestigious – and lucrative – prize for residential architecture. The awards celebrate the best New Zealand homes: the winners are unique intersections between a client’s needs and an architect’s vision. We’re now calling for entries in

An upcycled home on a windswept Wairarapa ridgeline

An upcycled home on a windswept Wairarapa ridgeline It’s a long drive from Wellington to the home of Ross Stevens, an industrial designer and a lecturer in future studies at Victoria University of Wellington. Off State Highway Two, a narrow road winds southward through the brown, parched fields of the Wairarapa Valley over an endless succession of one-way bridges. The waters of Palliser Bay are getting very close when a sign finally points the way

A beach home for the ages

Rather a long time ago, the owner of this house on Auckland’s Takapuna Beach tried to buy the section from its elderly owner. She wouldn’t sell. Twenty years later, walking along the beach one morning, he saw the place up for sale and wasted no time in securing it. You can understand his enthusiasm. It’s a long, narrow section at the very end of a narrow cul-de-sac that runs behind the beach. The sea is

What two families learnt from building a house each on one site

Two young families join forces to build a house each on a steep Wellington site. Here are the lessons they learnt from subdividing and designing their own homes 5 lessons learnt from designing and building on a subdivided section Tim Gittos and partner Caro Robertson – who run Space Craft Architects – returned to Wellington in January 2013 after time in Whangarei and Whanganui. They were shocked at the cost of renting a tiny two-bedroom flat – and

A galley style kitchen in Cambridge breaks away from open plan living

The galley design of this kitchen in Cambridge works separately to indoor living and seamlessly with an outdoor courtyard A galley style kitchen in Cambridge breaks away from open plan living Architect: Christopher Beer Location: Cambridge, Waikato Brief: Functionality foremost, and a kitchen that sits within the home as a crafted, considered object. The clients didn’t want a separate pantry – the galley layout provides shelving above a countertop with drawers below and fridge to

This Auckland villa’s kitchen blends modern style with a heritage feel

Thanks to extensive planning and considered material choices, this Auckland villa welcomes a new kitchen addition in a seamless merger This Auckland villa’s kitchen blends modern style with a heritage feel Architect: Jane Priest Location: Herne Bay, Auckland Brief: A functional kitchen for a growing family, with an island that faces the pool and deck to enable children to be supervised. What were the biggest challenges? The planning stage – the kitchen is located in the main thoroughfare linking the

Architect Giles Reid on Peter Beaven’s forgotten London townhouses

Giles Reid discusses celebrated New Zealand architect Peter Bevan and how he came to be apart of the restoration of one of Bevan’s London projects Q&A with architect Giles Reid Why did Beaven close his Christchurch practice and take off to London? I met Peter several times just after I graduated: friends from Auckland had just started working in his office, which was located up in the rafters of Benjamin Mountfort’s Provincial Council offices. We

Why good storage and sunlight are the keys to a successful small home

Architectural designer, Tobin Smith discusses his modern cottage in inner-city Christchurch and how storage and sunlight are invaluable in a small home [jwp-video n=”1″] Why good storage and sunlight are the keys to a successful small home Tobin Smith had been noodling around for years with the idea of a modern cottage, based on the small, charming 19th-century designs in the side streets beside Bealey Avenue, just east of the city’s CBD. “They were quite charming and

The kitchen of this Hahei holiday home was built for socialising

Efficiency was the name of the game for this Hahei holiday home’s kitchen. Discover how this space was built for socialising This beach retreat required an efficient space to cater for its owners and their guests Architect: Paul Clarke, Studio2 Architects Location: Hahei, Coromandel Brief: A kitchen in a new beach house for an extended family who like to cook together and for friends. Tell us about the timber used here. How did you bring it

This perfectly formed cabin makes living small look easy

Living small comes with many challenges, but this perfect little cabin does it with ease. Architect James Warren discusses how he created a deceptively simple house [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with James Warren of Upoko Architects What kind of compromises had to be made to deliver the house with such a small footprint? While the brief aimed for a small footprint, it didn’t limit the actual floor area. The challenge was to make the footprint as

These tough townhouses prove why building small is the future

Christchurch architect Mitchell Coll designed two small yet robust homes on a tiny city site. He explains why building small is the best thing for sustainability [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Mitchell Coll of Coll Architecture As a champion of sustainable design, what aspect of the home are you most proud of and why? I believe building small trumps all other sustainable features. I don’t believe adding anything extra to a building can be called sustainable,

This new-build offers a country lifestyle in the city

The owners of this home asked for light and sun, and architect Andrew Patterson certainly delivered with this pavilion-style new-build in Auckland The best way to live with art is not to be precious about it. So when Glenn and Sonja Hawkins briefed architect Andrew Patterson to design their new Auckland home, they didn’t talk much about their art collection, or where particular works might hang. Instead, they wanted a home that would allow them

Inside a tiny 36-square-metre cabin nestled in a nikau glade

Architect James Warren deftly crafts a compact cabin in a nikau glade where clever proportions and exquisite workmanship are on full display [jwp-video n=”1″] A tiny 36-square-metre cabin nestled in a nikau glade Nestled in a dense nikau forest on the dramatic Punakaiki coast, Simon and Su Hoskin’s compact cabin is almost invisible: a timber box floating in the bush. Su, a biodynamics consultant and Simon, a plasterer, spent years camping out on the forest site,

How this home was designed to work with Wellington’s ferocious winds

With its simple geometry and sloping ceilings that mirror the land, this 124-square-metre cedar home is a sculptural masterpiece [jwp-video n=”1″] How this home was designed to work with Wellington’s ferocious winds What’s a couple to do when they find themselves in an empty nest? If you’re Barbara Fill and Nick Dryden, you sell the family home before moving three doors down and demolishing a worker’s cottage, one of four built from Dutch kitsets by

A bold urban cottage on a quake-damaged Christchurch site

Inspired by worker’s cottages in the surrounding area, Tobin Smith creates a compact home with a strikingly simple aesthetic [jwp-video n=”1″] A bold urban cottage on a quake-damaged Christchurch site So many open homes, so many sketches. The idea of designing a house before you buy the land is something of anathema in New Zealand: every house is site specific, right? But in Christchurch, Tobin Smith had been noodling around for years with the idea of

Celebrated New Zealand architect Peter Beaven’s London townhouses

Discover how a forgotten townhouse project in London by renowned New Zealand architect Peter Beaven still has much to offer Celebrated New Zealand architect Peter Beaven’s London townhouses Heading down the Archway Road in London’s Highgate, just before the Hornsey Lane Bridge, you glimpse a white jagged-edged building. To a New Zealander’s eye, its forms are vaguely familiar. Named Tile Kiln Studios, it dates from 1982 and was designed by Peter Beaven (1925-2012). It comprises

How two Wellington couples built a house each on a difficult sloping site

These two Wellington couples decided to pool their resources and build two homes on a site where most would struggle to fit one How two Wellington couples built a house each on a difficult sloping site “This is 95 square metres and three stories,” says Tim Gittos, gesturing at the view out over Wellington. “That’s north, west is out there and east is there. And you get to look out at the hills and view.

A compact Wellington home gets back to basics with its pared back style

This creative Wellington couple traded in their family home and downsized to a contemporary cottage featuring simple geometry and pared back style [jwp-video n=”1″] A compact Wellington home gets back to basics with its pared back style What’s a couple to do when they find themselves in an empty nest? If you’re Barbara Fill and Nick Dryden, you sell the family home, cobbled together 34 years ago from recycled materials, to your eldest son Zen,

Two compact homes squeeze into a tiny Christchurch site

As a champion of space-efficient building it was only natural that this young Christchurch designer would build two homes on a 300-square-metre site [jwp-video n=”1″] Two compact homes squeeze into a tiny Christchurch site Sharp angles against the sky, tiny square windows, rusted steel and rivets: from the street, Mitchell Coll and Amy Douglas’ two-bedroom house looks impenetrable, like a tank that’s been left in the rain. Nestled between two 1990s dwellings – concrete on the

An architectural design built within quake-insurance restrictions

With the bones of a beloved family home and budget restrictions from quake-insurance, this architectural design was going to be tough. Architect Andrew Mitchell discusses An architectural design built within quake-insurance restrictions Liz and Ian bought their two-storey home in Fendalton, Christchurch, in 1978. They moved across town from one leafy suburb to another, to a house designed by Armson, Collins and Harman architects. The quakes that hit Canterbury twisted two internal chimney stacks, which warped

Architect Aaron Paterson discusses his dynamic courtyard home

Nestled amongst Victorian villas in a leafy Grey Lynn street is a home that hunkers into the earth whilst rising up to seek the light. Aaron Paterson discusses his dynamic design Q&A with Aaron Paterson of Paterson Architecture Collective With a sensible budget, how did you balance drama with cost? When we approach a design it’s important to make sure there are moments of delight that fit within budget. In this project it was about being

These windowless bathrooms embraced the dark by choosing black tiles

Designer Veryan Laity discusses how the three windowless bathrooms in this Auckland home play on their inherently moody nature These windowless bathrooms embraced the dark by choosing black tiles Architect: Bryan Windeatt of McKinney + Windeatt Designer: Veryan Laity Location: Westmere, Auckland Brief: Upgrade of three bathrooms as part of a home renovation Dark wall tiles and a lack of natural light haven’t traditionally been features found together in bathroom design, but as designer Veryan

A Lyttleton new-build is inspired by community spirit

The community spirit of Lyttelton helped to inspire the the open design of this home. Check out the Q&A with architect Jeremy Smith Q&A with Jeremy Smith of Irving Smith Architects What’s your take on Lyttelton, and how did the realities of the post-quake village influence your decision making? Life keeps on changing, so the requirements for houses change, too, of course. But when everything around you is being rebuilt, it’s harder to look ahead

Architect David Melling discusses building on a steep Wellington site

On a precipitous site above Wellington, David Melling creates two dwellings that make the most of a difficult spot. Check out our Q&A with him below Q&A with David Melling of Melling Architects What were the key considerations when building not one but two houses on this steeply sloped section? The real concern was how to design both houses so that each has the full benefit of the site’s natural assets – access, sun and

Great architecture preserves the memory of a quake damaged home

A house in Christchurch by Pattersons pays homage to the earthquake damaged home that stood before it. See how this new-build traces the memory of the past Great architecture preserves the memory of a quake damaged home A few weeks ago Liz walked into her shadowy bedroom at dusk and, out of habit, reached for a pull-chord light that wasn’t there. The leadlight windows were gone, too, as was the gabled roof, the handmade kauri

Architect Julian Guthrie improves on an original Don Cowey kitchen

Architect Julian Guthrie opens up an original Don Cowey kitchen to modern family living while preserving its original footprint Architect Julian Guthrie improves on an original Don Cowey kitchen Architect: Julian Guthrie Location: Remuera, Auckland Brief: A new kitchen in the same footprint of the original in a 1960s house by the late architect, Don Cowey. Ninety percent of Julian Guthrie’s clients opt for a butler’s pantry, but adding floor area to this new kitchen

Architect Dave Strachan discusses his urban oasis

Encased in bunker-like cladding and concrete, Dave Stachan’s Mt Eden home is a bullet-proof sanctuary in a busy setting. Check out the Q&A with him below Scroll down to take a tour through this robust, urban home Architect Dave Strachan discusses his urban oasis Before you bought the site, you took your whole team to see it. Why? Most projects have a number of constraints; the team can learn how to identify both those and

Architect Julian Guthrie creates a rustic bathroom underground

In a home originally designed by Don Cowey, architect Julian Guthrie has created an underground bathroom that still manages to feel connected and open Architect Julian Guthrie creates a rustic bathroom underground Architect: Julian Guthrie Location: Remuera, Auckland Brief: New bathroom in a 1960s family home When architect Julian Guthrie, his partner Georgie and their four children moved into their 1960s home designed by the late Christchurch architect, Don Cowey, this space didn’t exist. They