Homes Archives

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

A compact home expands thanks to a clever compound solution

The problem? Expand a celebrated 80-square-metre home by Marc Lithgow without compromising the original structure. The solution? Create a compound. A compact home expands thanks to a clever compound solution More than a decade ago, architect Marc Lithgow of Space Division designed a compact, clever little house for a young family in Mount Albert, Auckland. The site had been subdivided off the property next door and – due to huge listed trees – the easiest

Slate tiles give this Cambridge bathroom a rustic connection to nature

Despite the tight budget, limited space and little natural light, these bathrooms have a luxurious feel. We get the design details from architect Christopher Beer Slate tiles give this Cambridge bathroom a rustic connection to nature Architect: Christopher Beer Location: Cambridge, Waikato Brief: Create two luxurious internal bathrooms while working to a tight budget. You’ve used slate here, which you’ve used elsewhere in the house. What was the attraction? Slate is fantastic material because it’s

A pair of Wellington homes mirror the slope of their impossibly steep site

After sitting empty for three decades, a precipitous site above Wellington is revived by David Melling’s clever idea to build two homes that mirror the land A pair of Wellington homes mirror the slope of their impossibly steep site You’re 10 minutes’ drive from Wellington’s CBD, less if the traffic is kind. But high on the Brooklyn hills, with New Zealand’s capital spread beneath – the view extends from Pencarrow Heads out to the Hutt

Bold design and crisp style combine in this solid Grey Lynn home

Rising up to seek the light, discover how this bold home brings a dynamic presence to an otherwise ordinary Auckland street Bold design and crisp style combine in this solid Grey Lynn home Phil Ivey and Michelle Dowd had lived on their Grey Lynn street for a decade in a renovated 1940s house that was just on the small side of not quite big enough for them and their three children Then, the dunger next

A large Grey Lynn bathroom is cleverly split in two

The surplus floor space in a dated 1980s bathroom in Grey Lynn has been rationalised by splitting in two to create an ensuite A large Grey Lynn bathroom is cleverly split in two Architect: Andrew Meiring Location: Grey Lynn, Auckland Brief: A new en suite and family bathroom to take the place of the former large bathroom. One became two when one large bathroom was divided into an en suite for photographer Jackie Meiring, her

A kitchen in Hawke’s Bay is designed with a crisp, clear aesthetic

The crisp, clear design of this kitchen in Hawke’s Bay is inspired by the view and harks back to its owner’s previous home A kitchen in Hawke’s Bay is designed with a crisp, clear aesthetic Architect: Clarkson Architects Designer: Leanne Larking Location: Waimarama, Hawke’s Bay Brief: A kitchen in a beach house for the designer’s long-term clients. Kitchen designer Leanne Larking’s relationship with her clients, the owners of this beach house at Waimarama, goes back

This Matakana kitchen is commercial in size and social in style

A passionate cook gets room to move and create in his new kitchen in Matakana. Architect Dom Glamuzina answers our questions about the design process This Matakana kitchen is commercial in size and social in style Architect: Glamuzina Architects with Paterson Architecture Collective Interiors: Tomi Williams, Indigo Design Location: Matakana Brief: A cook’s kitchen that’s close to commercial in scale. Entertaining and eating were at the heart of the brief. How does this kitchen meet

Inside the Lyttelton new-build with a villa silhouette

Architect Jeremy Smith designs a home high above Lyttelton Harbour whose form is inspired by its owner’s earthquake damaged villa Inside the Lyttelton new-build with a villa silhouette Celia Allison and George Moran lost their Lyttelton villa to the 2011 earthquake by degrees, living in the broken building for three years while the insurance process stalled and the southerly whipped through hand-sized cracks in the fabric. When the opportunity to rebuild finally arrived, they couldn’t

This home’s robust exterior is the perfect protection from a busy main road

Dave Strachan’s robust almost bullet-proof Mt Eden home responds effortlessly to its intense urban site and busy family life This home’s robust exterior is the perfect protection from a busy main road When the 277 Metrolink bus makes its way in rush-hour traffic along Mt Eden Road, Thursday morning commuters are often greeted by a holler and a cheeky wave as they pass by number 339. Two-year-old Thea Strachan, who stays with her grandparents once

Black accents and generous design give this villa kitchen a modern feel

This generous kitchen in a renovated Auckland villa serves its family and their friends with ease. We discover the style story from designer Morgan Cronin Black accents and generous design give this villa kitchen a modern feel Designer: Morgan Cronin Location: Auckland Brief: New kitchen for a villa renovation According to designer Morgan Cronin, this kitchen – in a two-storey villa renovation – incorporates many of the current directions in contemporary kitchen design. “Black, black

This Westmere kitchen blends industrial style with sleek design

Inspired by its robust exterior cladding, the kitchen of this Westmere home uses a slick palette to balance a tough industrial edge This Westmere kitchen blends industrial style with sleek design Designer: Leonie von Sturmer Location: Westmere, Auckland Brief: A kitchen to connect with the home’s indoor and outdoor living areas. Courtney Letica wasn’t looking for a complicated kitchen when he renovated his Auckland home. “I didn’t need something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey,

Aesthetic and budget find common ground in this Kapiti Coast home

Using standard materials and smart detailing, Sam Kebbell designs a house on the Kapiti Coast on the barest of budgets Aesthetic and budget find common ground in this Kapiti Coast home Can you build an affordable, handsome home? The answer isn’t straightforward, but the ‘Quite Simple House’ by Wellington architect Sam Kebbell of Kebbell Daish comes pretty close. Designed for a couturier who had just moved back from London, the house was built on the slimmest

A majestic farmhouse-style building in rural New Zealand

This majestic ‘farmhouse’ designed by Andrew Patterson and his team on Annandale, a sheep and cattle station of approximately 4000 acres with more than 10 kilometres of coastline on the northern side of Banks Peninsula, will leave you breathless Design notebook, Q&A with architect Andrew Patterson Andrew, how did this project come about? Andrew Patterson Mark (the owner) rang out of the blue and said [the farm’s original] farmhouse needed altering. It was terribly dilapidated, but it had this

A courtyard home in Cambridge is the ultimate in urban living

The 2017 Home of the Year is a house for a young family by a young architect in a provincial town – and yet it has much to teach city dwellers about how to live [jwp-video n=”1″] A courtyard home in Cambridge is the ultimate in urban living Walking through the township of Cambridge in the heart of provincial Waikato, a building appears that strays far from the norm. It sits surrounded by a supermarket, a

Patchwork Architecture discuss New Zealand’s Best Small Home

Patchwork Architecture discuss the challenges of designing small and how smart design is key to creating a functional space [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Patchwork Architecture The modest footprint shows a unique approach by the owners, a couple with two young children. Is this becoming more common? Sally Ogle: I think it will as more infill housing is built, utilising smaller sites within our cities. It’s also part of an evolution of how New Zealanders think

Q&A with winning Home of the Year architect Christopher Beer

The winning house from Home of the Year has much to teach city dwellers about how to live. We chat to architect Christopher Beer about his inspiring design Q&A with architect Chris Beer Was your creativity stifled by the budget at all? The restricted budget actually necessitated creativity. We knew what we wanted to achieve aesthetically and spatially, but that it had to be cost-effective – which many times necessitated using off-the-shelf items in creative

Choosing New Zealand’s best residential architecture

The Home of Year 2017 judging panel went on tour to select the country’s best residential architecture. HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green shares their journey [jwp-video n=”1″] Choosing New Zealand’s best residential architecture This is what it takes to judge home of the year: you drive from Auckland to Coromandel, and then on to Cambridge, before flying to Christchurch. You fly to Wellington for a day and a night, and then on to Auckland and Matakana,

Architect Dominic Glamuzina on the process of designing a stand out home

Architecture firm Glamuzina Paterson created a striking home in Matakana. Dominic Glamuzina discusses what the design process was like [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with architect Dominic Glamuzina What are your thoughts on the tender process to secure an architect? It’s similar to an advertising pitch. Your approach to a project changes when you have a competitor, it’s more about selling a tactic than a finished proposal and making assumptions about the intentions of your competitor. I

Patchwork Architecture: What it’s like to be your own client

Sally Ogle and Ben Mitchell-Anyon of Patchwork Architecture discuss what it was like to be their own client and build on an impossibly steep section [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with Patchwork Architecture Did being your own client give you more flexibility in design? Sally Ogle: A bit. The design was fairly well resourced and materials were nailed down before we started (which it has to be for the consenting process). Ben and I project managed the

Why courtyard homes are the perfect model for urban living

Architect Guy Tarrant discusses his home in Point Chevalier and why the courtyard model is a wonderful answer to tight sites in urban settings [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with architect Guy Tarrant This house was a conscious effort to build less – single garage, two bathrooms, no guest room. Has it worked? While this may be the smallest house we’ve built, it’s also the most rewarding. The courtyard plan creates a clarity of purpose and a

Herbst Architects bring design led style to humble bach living

10 years ago a restrained holiday home by Herbst Architects was named the runner up for the 2007 Home of the Year. We revisit with the judge and architect Herbst Architects bring design led style to humble bach living Sir Edmund Hillary returned to Antarctica for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base. Apple released the very first iPhone. The KiwiSaver retirement scheme was introduced. Corporal Willie Apiata was awarded the Victoria Cross

A compact, container-inspired home in the Peka Peka dunes

We return to the container-inspired home by Architecture Workshop that was the runner up for Home of the Year over 15 years ago A compact, container-inspired home in the Peka Peka dunes National suffered its worst-ever election defeat. Hip-hop artist Che Fu took home album of the year at the New Zealand music awards. The Euro was officially introduced into Eurozone countries. And a house in Remuera by Nicholas Stevens, yet to join forces with

Architect Patrick Clifford discusses his almost award winning home

It was 1997 and two townhouses in Westmere, Auckland, were named Home of the Year. We look back at the runner up, a home in Te Horo by architect Patrick Clifford Architect Patrick Clifford discusses his almost award winning home Auckland’s Sky Tower opened. Jenny Shipley became New Zealand’s first female prime minister, replacing Jim Bolger as leader. Strawpeople won album of the year for Vicarious at the New Zealand Music Awards. And in a

How concrete flooring makes this renovation feel effortlessly contemporary

This 1960s St Heliers home has received a much-needed rework to suit the modern family lifestyle In Auckland’s St Heliers, this renovation project by Rogan Nash Architects involved the demolition of a “disastrous 90s extension” appended to a 60s-style home. Kate Rogan and Eva Nash were tasked with “creating a wonderful home for entertaining that suits modern family life”, out of the rubble of the old extension. And they’ve made it appear effortless. Now a

An elegant Matakana retreat reimagines rural living

An intriguing retreat nestled in a sheltered, Matakana paddock is recognised in the 2017 Home of the Year awards. We get the story from behind the design [jwp-video n=”1″] An elegant Matakana retreat reimagines rural living Walking dull conversation across the threshold of a home is considered a social no-no in some circles. But entering a house that freely offers up visual dialogue cues may get the less verbally adroit visitors off the hook. A

This small home is making big waves for the young architects who designed it

Perched on an impossibly steep site above Island Bay sits a house by Patchwork Architecture that finds poetry in found materials and collaboration [jwp-video n=”1″] This small home is making big waves for the young architects who designed it It takes a village to raise a child, and an even bigger village to raise a house up on a steep hill. When three Wellington friends set themselves the task of designing and building a hilltop home,

Inside a unique Taupo home that’s full of quirky rooms and dynamic spaces

Ministry of Works architect John Wilson only designed three houses in his career. Here, he discusses complex treetop home he designed for his brother in the ’70s [jwp-video n=”1″] Inside a unique Taupo home that’s full of quirky rooms and dynamic spaces You spent most of your career designing public buildings. How different was the experience of designing a house? Not a lot really, for me. Though it could have been as there’s a big