Homes Archives

An architectural treasure hidden high in the Wellington treetops

A mid-century Wellington home by the great Bill Toomath entrances a younger generation A life in the trees Hidden behind a modest timber gate, down a narrow dead-end Wellington street, lies a garden sanctuary containing one of New Zealand’s enigmatic architectural treasures. This elevated timber retreat is a place of reverie in Mt Cook, nestled high between the twisted limbs of the surrounding native bush. As the timber gate closes with a satisfactory clunk, the hubbub of

A complex home in Taupo responds masterfully to its steeply wooded site

As a government architect John Wilson only designed three residential houses, one of which was for his brother: a complex treetop home in Taupo [jwp-video n=”1″] A complex home in Taupo responds masterfully to its steeply wooded site The original house on the section was a bach. It was the 1970s and the popularity of Taupo as a holiday destination was reflected in the baches springing up around the town. When Len and Ruth Wilson

Two bathrooms complement and contrast in this Auckland villa

While one pays homage to classic villa detailing and the other uses solid contemporary elements, these two bathrooms live in harmony Two bathrooms complement and contrast in this Auckland villa Architect: Jane Priest, Lochore Priest Location: Herne Bay, Auckland Brief: An ensuite and guest bathroom in a renovated villa Was there something specific that kicked off the design of each bathroom? The master en suite had to complement the detailing of the existing villa, with

This modernist Remuera home exudes European style

Architect and academic Ross Jenner designed his own courtyard home in Remuera with a European sensibility that still seems to fit Auckland beautifully [jwp-video n=”1″] This modernist Remuera home exudes European style At first blush, the house of Ross and Chris Jenner seems like a fancy or a folly, some kind of postmodern neo-classical in-joke. When it was built in 1985, it bore little resemblance to a New Zealand house – and even less resemblance

The winner of New Zealand’s best small home

An inner-city home on a tight, steep Wellington site wins the title of Best Small home at this year’s Home of the Year awards [jwp-video n=”1″] Winner of New Zealand’s best small home HOME magazine’s Home of the Year awards recognises the best of New Zealand architecture with four awards: the Supreme Home of the Year Winner, Best Small Home, Best City Home, and Best City Home. The winner of the Best Small Home title is ‘Pyramid Scheme’

Cambridge Town House by Christopher Beer wins Home of the Year 2017

Christopher Beer Architect wins the supreme award for Home of the Year 2017. Discover the story behind the project and get to know the category winners [jwp-video n=”1″] Cambridge Town House by Christopher Beer wins Home of the Year 2017 HOME magazine’s Home of the Year awards has named the Cambridge Town House by Christopher Beer Architect as the supreme winner. The Home is a thoroughly urban house in Cambridge in the heart of the

An inside look at the 2017 Home of the Year awards

HOME celebrated the best of New Zealand architecture at the 2017 Home of the Year awards, the country’s most prestigious prize for residential architecture An inside look at the 2017 Home of the Year awards Now in it’s 22nd year, Home of the Year celebrates the best of New Zealand residential architecture. Awards include the subcategories of Best Small Home, Best City Home, Best Retreat and the Supreme award for Home of the Year. The

Introducing the winner of Home of the Year 2017

After a nationwide wide search and much deliberation, HOME announce the winner of this year’s coveted Home of the Year award [jwp-video n=”1″] Introducing the winner of Home of the Year 2017 Watch to discover which home has won the prestigious award of Home of the Year 2017 and a $15,000 cash prize thanks to award sponsors Altherm Window Systems. [gallery_link num_photos=”5″ media=”https://homemagazine.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cambridge.jpg” link=”/inside-homes/home-features/courtyard-home-in-cambridge” title=”Read the full story here”] [related_articles post1=”67990″ post2=”66162″]

The daughter of legendary architect John Scott discusses his last design

Ema Scott reflects on the ideas and process behind her father designing their beloved family home that was also his last ever project [jwp-video n=”1″] The daughter of legendary architect John Scott discusses his last design Your father created a home that feels intimate and calm. How did he do that? Although humble, our home also has an understated sense of elegance, poise – peacefulness even. It has nothing to do with the expensive this

Discover the last finalist for Home of the Year 2017

HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green announces the sixth finalist for Home of the Year 2017 [jwp-video n=”1″] Discover the last finalist for Home of the Year 2017 HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green announces the last finalist for Home of the Year 2017. Bought to you by Altherm Window Systems. Check out the other finalists below. First finalist: ‘Stealth Bomber’ by Patchwork Architecture [jwp-video n=”2″] Second finalist: Guy Tarrant’s Point Chevalier home [jwp-video n=”3″] Third finalist: Matakana Project by Glamuzina Architects + Paterson Architecture

Discover the fifth finalist in Home of the Year 2017

Introducing the fifth of our six finalists for Home of the Year 2017! Watch as HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green takes us through this unique home [jwp-video n=”1″] Discover the fifth finalist for Home of the Year 2017 HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green announces the fifth finalist for Home of the Year 2017. Watch to discover the story behind this unique home. Bought to you by Altherm Window Systems. Check out the other finalists below. First finalist: ‘Stealth Bomber’

An earthquake stricken home from the ’60s is rebuilt inside a modern shell

The irreparably damaged home of one of New Zealand’s most influential architects has been cleverly pieced together inside the shell of a modern building [jwp-video n=”1″] An earthquake stricken home from the ’60s is rebuilt inside a modern shell On the eve of the demolition of Maurice and Margaret Mahoney’s quake-damaged house, their four adult children were granted an indulgence: each was allowed to write in felt pen on the white blockwork, a serious taboo

Discover the fourth finalist for Home of the Year 2017

Watch as HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green announces the fourth finalist for Home of the Year and discover what makes this place so special [jwp-video n=”1″] Discover the fourth finalist for Home of the Year 2017 The architecture firm responsible for the fourth finalist for Home of the Year 2017 also has another project in the top six! Watch to find out which firm has achieved this remarkable feat. Bought to you by Altherm Window Systems. Check out

Home of the Year 2017 third finalist: Matakana project

We’re officially half way through the final six for Home of the Year 2017. Watch to find out which home has filled the third finalist spot [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year 2017 third finalist: Matakana project by Glamuzina Architects + Paterson Architecture Collective Watch HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green announce the third of the Home of the Year finalists, brought to you by Altherm Window Systems. Check out the first and second finalists below. First finalist: ‘Stealth Bomber’

This family bathroom blends functionality with minimalist design

CoLab Architecture helped this family bathroom and guest WC find common ground by breaking tradition and blending the two This family bathroom blends functionality with minimalist design Architect: Tobin Smith, CoLab Architecture Location: Lyttelton, Christchurch Brief: A main bathroom in the Kelleher family home that doubles as a guest WC. How does this bathroom differ from the bathroom downstairs? Tim Kelleher: The downstairs bathroom has no bath; it’s mainly for our kids when they grow

Home of the Year 2017 second finalist: Guy Tarrant’s Point Chev home

The count down to Home of the Year 2017 is well underway! Watch and see HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green reveal the second of the six finalists [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year 2017 second finalist: Guy Tarrant‘s Point Chev home Stay tuned over the next few days as we reveal the next four finalists for Home of the Year 2017, thanks to our award sponsors, Altherm Window Systems. Check out the video below to see

Home of the Year 2017 first finalist: Stealth Bomber by Patch Work Architecture

We begin the countdown to Home of the Year 2017. Watch to discover which home is the first to make it into the final six [jwp-video n=”1″] Home of the Year 2017 first finalist: Stealth Bomber by Patch Work Architecture Here is the first of the finalists for Home of the Year 2017, in association with Altherm Window Systems. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be announcing a further five finalists, revealing the Home of

A creative duo make light work of designing their en suite in Westmere

The creative process for this Auckland couple’s ensuite was simple thanks to their similar aesthetics and professional eye for design A creative duo make light work of designing their en suite in Westmere Architect: Andrew Meiring, Andrew Meiring Architects Location: Westmere, Auckland Brief: In the architect’s own home, the directive was to “make the ensuite nice”. When HOME featured your house (October/November 2016), you said decision making was easy for you and Helen, an architect and

See the 15 homes that made the 2017 Home of the Year shortlist

Get a sneak peak of the 15 homes that made the short list for the 2017 Home of the Year awards [jwp-video n=”1″] See the 15 homes that made the 2017 Home of the Year shortlist HOME’s editor Simon Farrell-Green has been touring New Zealand with international guest judge Todd Saunders and celebrated architect Richard Naish to judge the 2017 Home of the Year, brought to you by Altherm Window Systems. There was a bumper crop

This 1960s modernist home is still relevant for contemporary family life

A sympathetic renovation helped to bring this untouched 60s home into the 21st century and work effortlessly for busy family life [jwp-video n=”1″] This 1960s modernist home is still relevant for contemporary family life A couple of years ago, architect Julian Guthrie was browsing through the newspaper when something caught his eye – a real-estate listing for a mid-60s modernist home in Remuera, Auckland, by the architect Don Cowey. “I saw it in the Herald

A Waimauku bathroom uses plants as an ingenious privacy screen

Herbst Architects achieve a natural and harmonious division in an open-plan, Waimauku bathroom by creating a wall of plants A Waimauku bathroom uses plants as an ingenious privacy screen Architects: Lance and Nicola Herbst, Herbst Architects Location: Waimauku, Auckland Brief: An en suite for the master bedroom of a new home with a bath and shower. How did the idea for the green wall between the toilet and shower evolve? Nicola Herbst: We first suggested

This Haumoana home is the last design of legendary architect John Scott

John Scott spent decades refining his ideas about materials and form – elements that came together beautifully in this home for his daughter and her family [jwp-video n=”1″] This Haumoana home is the last design of legendary architect John Scott The Scott family land at Haumoana, Hawke’s Bay, sits above a river, which leads down to the beach. Compared to the wild stony blusteriness of the coast, it’s sheltered and calm, with huge established trees

Get an inside look at the cover story from the latest issue of HOME

Simon Farrell-Green, editor of HOME, discusses the feature home from the latest magazine designed by architect academic Ross Jenner [jwp-video n=”1″] Get an inside look at the cover story from the latest issue of HOME On the cover of the latest issue is the remarkable courtyard home of academic and architect Ross Jenner. Ross and his wife Chris built the home in 1985 on a tiny, rear site in Remuera next to Ross’s parents. Together,

A clever gable manipulation opens a bungalow to the outdoors

This Herne Bay bungalow was crying out for a connection to its backyard, until a clever architect manipulated its gables in a genius space-making design A clever gable manipulation opens a bungalow to the outdoors We talk freely about villas and bungalows as if the transition between them was instant and clear, rather than being a process of a decade or two of change happening by the smallest of degrees. This house sits reasonably far along

A Mt Eden home embraces its volcanic landscape by putting it on display

Rather than hide the impossibly impenetrable lava rock that covers most of the land on this on Mt Eden section architect Nicholas Stevens encased it glass and put it on display A Mt Eden home embraces its volcanic landscape by putting it on display The owners of this home in the Auckland suburb of Epsom may have initially offended their architects by describing the design as “modern baroque”. Nicholas Stevens of Stevens Lawson Architects, perhaps

A tiny shed and 6sqm deck is the perfect bach for this family

Herbst Architects distill everything you need and nothing you don’t into their tiniest, and arguably most ingenious project yet The land was cheap, which is strange because it’s simply delightful: a long narrow section running down to Little Shoal Bay at Tryphena on the western side of Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. There’s a grove of pohutukawa and kanuka above the beach and a sheltered little clearing back towards the road. One day,

The Rakino Island bach by Malcolm Walker opens onto a large deck with sea views.

New Zealand’s best new baches

Showcasing five fantastic new designs for summer There’s a particular art to designing the perfect bach, and HOME magazine’s brand-new issue has plenty of advice on how to go about it. Included in the new issue is this bach on Rakino Island, designed by architect Malcolm Walker. It’s a place where the architect and owners have identified the essentials for successful summer living: compact, well-designed space and a big deck from which to take in the views.

Holidaying large in the Bay of Islands

A holiday home in the Bay of Islands creates an easy relationship of land to sea Holidaying large in the Bay of Islands The Fold House spreads out like a girl on a towel at the foot of the water. It hides at the bottom of a winding descent, past forks in the road, past security gates, a long and sprawling place set on impossibly green grass. On arrival, you see it in the same way

A Yale architecture professor has pitched a genius home in New Zealand

This easy-going, practical retreat in the Kaipara Harbour garners inspiration from one of New Zealand’s finest traditions A Yale architecture professor has pitched a genius home in New Zealand Peggy Deamer spent her first summer in New Zealand fascinated with tents. She’d moved here from New York City to teach architecture at the University of Auckland, and immediately become intrigued by the way people treated tents as BYO bedrooms during their holidays. “Everyone was saying

Bathrooms: Mt Eden villa’s marble marvel

Architect Guy Tarrant creates a new bathroom in tune with the renovated villa it calls home. Here, Tarrant discusses the selection of materials used and what makes good bathroom design. HOME This bathroom is part of a major renovation of a villa. What was required, and how did you choose to allocate the space for it? Guy Tarrant Two bathrooms were required, an en suite and a family bathroom. Only the family bathroom required

Camping has been reimagined at this holiday spot in the Kaipara Harbour

Architect and owner Peggy Deamer was inspired by the Kiwi style of holidaying when she created this modern take on camping Camping has been reimagined at this holiday spot in the Kaipara Harbour Peggy Deamer spent her first summer in New Zealand fascinated with tents. She’d moved here from New York City to teach architecture at the University of Auckland, and immediately become intrigued by the way people treated tents as BYO bedrooms during their

Living in New York inspired the small footprint of this Thames home

Discover how a stint in New York lead to an appreciation for living small and inspired the tiny footprint for this hillside home in Thames Living in New York inspired the small footprint of this Thames home After a gentle seaside drive about 10 minutes from the centre of Thames to Thornton Bay, a very steep driveway takes you to the home of Viv Kernick and Kirsty Griffin. If you survive the driveway, it’s then

A modern Mount Maunganui cottage honours the 1940s bach it replaced

Kiwi-bach living inspired the design of this new house on the waterfront at Mount Maunganui, which honours the 1940s cottage it replaced A modern Mount Maunganui cottage honours the 1940s bach it replaced There is something about Mount Maunganui that pulls you away from the sea to rubberneck at the mansions: on family holidays we always drive along Marine Parade and pick a favourite. But it’s not beauty that distracts us – more likely, it

This Great Barrier getaway may be the tiniest bach ever built

This Herbst Architects project distils down the essentials to create an ingeniously compact holiday home on Great Barrier Island This Great Barrier getaway may be the tiniest bach ever built The land was cheap, which is strange because it’s simply delightful: a long narrow section running down to Little Shoal Bay at Tryphena on the western side of Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. There’s a grove of pohutukawa and kanuka above the beach

A kitchen renovation breathes new life into a beloved family home

A beloved home that has been in the same family for 70 years finally gets the kitchen it deserves. See the amazing makeover revealing stunning sea views A kitchen renovation breathes new life into this beloved family home Designer: Yvette Jay Architect: Gerrad Hall Location: Bayswater, Auckland Brief: A new kitchen for the childhood home of Sir Peter Blake, which has been in the family for 70 years. This house has a fascinating story. Could you please

A modern take on 70s style gives this kitchen makeover a cool twist

Sleek design offset by original features has created a stylish workable kitchen in this Freeman’s Bay home. See how 70s charm was given a contemporary twist A modern take on 70s style gives this kitchen makeover a cool twist Designer: Shane George, Kitchens by Design Location: Freemans Bay, Auckland Brief: Sleek design to suit a 1972 townhouse. Improved workflow and stainless-steel benchtops What was the starting point for this design? Client: I’ve lived here for

A luxury family kitchen with a cafe feel

A family kitchen designed by Sonja Hawkins has a cafe feel but does all-day duty Brief: Interior designer Sonja Hawkins designed her own family kitchen in a home by Pattersons. Q&A with designer Sonja Hawkins What was your design starting point? The general feel of the house is semi-industrial. I wanted a bit of a café feel, as we love our coffee and had purchased the beautiful La Marzocco espresso machine. The kitchen is the hub of

Inside the famous solar-powered First Light House

Designed by architecture students, the solar-powered First Light House won third place in the 2011 US Solar Decathlon before settling in Hawke’s Bay The famous First Light House at home in NZ In a giant leap of faith earlier this year, my husband and I made an unconditional cash offer on Victoria University’s award-winning Meridian First Light House. Based in Hawke’s Bay, we had only ever seen it online, and the purchase was far from

A family home that is cleverly stacked over three levels

Combining monumental heft with deft design moves, Daniel Marshall creates a surprising new family home The gentle northern slopes of Auckland’s Remuera seldom see homes this mysterious. Here at the end of a quiet cul de sac, an enigmatic glass-and-concrete structure occupies a site where a plain 1960s brick-and-tile home once stood. Is it a commercial building? An art gallery? An office for a boutique investment firm? It is a building that is simultaneously solid and

A stylish holiday home among the dunes that dusts off tired bach living

Created as a contemporary living space for a modern family, this holiday home nestled in the Omaha dunes is an entertainer’s dream A brilliantly designed home among the sand dunes of sunny Omaha beach Omaha, the beach, is a particularly lovely stretch of white sand, one of those perfect crescents on the east coast of the North Island with gentle rolling surf that’s never too large but always seems quite nicely formed. Omaha, the settlement,

A Northland pool lined in glossy black tiles

A Northland pool designed to be taken in day-long doses Pool fencing requirements often make you wonder if it’s worth even bothering with a pool, given that the need to make a body of water safe will also render it unsightly. But, given the right amount of space and design smarts, anything is possible, as this Northland pool proves. It was designed by Noel Lane Architects in association with Rowe Baetens Architects. Located on a

This Waiheke beach house was designed to blend into its exposed location

This beautifully designed beachfront property on Waiheke Island shuns too much interest from passersby by striking a balance between public and private This Waiheke beach house was designed to blend into its exposed location The etiquette of engagement with surroundings can be fraught for beachfront homes. Too much of an exposed fish-bowl design and you’re on view to everyone passing by; too fortress-like and you’re at risk of cutting yourself off from the view and

Outdoor flow turns this home into a sun-filled summer space

Architects Julian Mitchell and Rachel Dodd built the deck before the house, creating a functional outdoor space for the family Outdoor flow turns this home to sun-filled summer space Nearly a decade ago, architects Julian Mitchell and Rachel Dodd were living in a one-bedroom flat in Devonport, Auckland, with a second baby on the way when they found a crumbling duplex on a gently sloping site for sale in nearby Belmont. They nearly didn’t buy

An introvert family goes for an extrovert colour on their hillside home

This home’s vivid orange exterior is a sparky contrast to the green setting. We discover why this family chose the colour for the “the absurdity of it” An introvert family goes for an extrovert colour on their hillside home I’m 20 minutes late to meet Emma and George Bettle at their house in Maungakawa, northeast of Cambridge. I’ve been up and down a windy hillside road looking for the bright orange house that I assumed, from

This kitchen is the ultimate entertaining space despite its tricky shape

Designer Veryan Laity reworked an unusual corner of this triangular house to create a very sleek and social kitchen space Designer: Veryan Laity of IK2 Design Architect: Bryan Windeatt of McKinney + Windeatt Interior: Gilly Baillie Photography: Jackie Meiring Location: Auckland Brief: A new, repositioned kitchen in a renovated seaside home Why did you relocate the kitchen in this home? Veryan Laity: The home is by the water on a triangular section, and the house

Black and white textures add drama to this light-filled kitchen

This kitchen in Mt Eden, designed by Joanna Hoeft, takes contrasting elements and blends them to create an inspired space Black and white textures add drama to this light-filled kitchen Designer: Joanna Hoeft, Studio Italia Location: Mt Eden, Auckland Brief: To redesign a kitchen, laundry and bathroom space in the designer’s own home. You chose black to lessen the impact of the floorboard tones. How did you choose the material for the cabinets? Joanna Hoeft:

This new-build in Muriwai takes advantage of the dramatic sweeping views

A home on a cliff above Muriwai Beach by Julian Guthrie sits rock-solid in sunshine and storms This new-build in Muriwai takes advantage of the dramatic sweeping views On the cliff above the southern end of Auckland’s Muriwai Beach, a line of houses overlooks the world-famous gannet colony and Oaia Island, where hundreds of seals come ashore to give birth each year. From up here, the beach stretches away into the surf-hazed distance along the

A rundown Kingsland villa scrubs up well

Architect Jack McKinney likens the home’s amalgamation of old and new to a mullet haircut: “formal in the front, party down the back” A rundown Kingsland villa scrubs up well It started small, as so many big projects do. A decade ago, architect Jack McKinney and his partner Tracy Lunjevich bought a rundown villa in Kingsland, a gentrifying suburb in central Auckland. Main attractions: the area is filled with turn-of-the-century villas, has a raffish charm,

An Omaha holiday beach home that makes the most of sun, surf and sand

Architect Julian Guthrie looks to low-maintenance materials that weather well for this summer home among the sand dunes An Omaha holiday beach home that makes the most of sun, surf and sand What are the key considerations when designing a house by the sea? Coastal homes need to withstand a much harsher environment, both from wind and sun, and also salt and even sand deterioration. The interior should allow for sandy bare feet! Low-maintenance materials

New Zealand’s best new apartments

A group of Wellington apartments by Parsonson Architects slots 16 bedrooms onto the site of a single villa – and wins HOME magazine’s Best Multi-Unit Project prize in its Home of the Year awards. But not without controversy. [jwp-video n=”1″] The Zavos Corner Apartments are located on a prominent corner in the Wellington suburb of Mount Victoria, and they weren’t erected without a fight. In fact, architect Gerald Parsonson of Parsonson Architects, the firm

A coastal home in Thames offers a secret sanctuary

Adam Mercer of Mercer and Mercer Architects takes inspiration from the intensity of the landscape and dramatic sweeping sea views A coastal home in Thames offers a secret sanctuary What were the most challenging aspects of designing this home? The power and drama of this site is immense, the challenge was to do it justice. Now that’s it’s finished, what do you enjoy most about the design? The random photos that Kirsty and Viv send

A bach that’s actually a permanent home

A bach that’s actually a permanent home It was Andrew Vette’s grandfather who first established the family’s bach at Makorori Beach, just north of Gisborne. The original “tin-shed shack” was built in the sand dunes just after World War Two; Vette’s grandfather enlisted his rugby team to help drag the bach up the slope and onto its foundations when the land was subdivided. With various accretions, it eventually became a basic two-bedroom home that his

This Mount Maunganui home shares the spirit of the quintessential Kiwi bach

Evan Mayo of Architecture Bureau discusses making way for the new while still retaining enchanting elements of this once classic-Kiwi holiday home This Mount Maunganui home shares the spirit of a quintessential Kiwi bach Were you surprised when Mark and Heather decided to remove the original cottage? When we designed the rear house, the understanding was that, at some stage, the question of their use of the original cottage would need to be addressed. But it

Kitchens: modern refinement in an old Brooklyn building

When Berridge and his client Jennifer Bartlett decided they wanted the kitchen upstairs where the light was best, the result was a space with an 11-metre-long counter overlooking the street outside. The sheer size of it drove the layout and aesthetic with Berridge opting for open pull cupboards instead of a forest of handles and knobs. Kitchens: modern refinement in an old Brooklyn building HOME In this living, dining and kitchen space, you’ve run the kitchen along one

Bathrooms: 1920s luxury

Obsessive attention to detail transformed this small space into a natural extension of the apartment and an elegant nod to 1920s style. HOME What were the key decorative moves you made in this small space? Jonathan Rutherford-Best, owner It’s very small – it really is a powder room. We wanted to evoke a sense of 1920s luxury throughout the entire apartment, and this powder room has all the hallmarks of the period. There’s a

Step inside a Moroccan-inspired beach house

A view was a prerequisite for Heidi Correa and her family when hunting for a weekend home at Palm Beach north of Sydney This modernist house comes complete with a three-storey tower and an epic view, offering 360-degree panoramic vistas. But the rest of the home is just as gorgeous with a fresh Moroccan feel that combines rustic furniture pieces with bright pops of colour, woven Turkish rugs and leather poufs. In fact, decorating the interior inspired

A new deck created the ultimate indoor outdoor living for this small home

Although their house was small and pokey, architects Julian Mitchell and Rachel Dodd built a deck first which created some much-needed extra living space A new deck created the ultimate indoor outdoor living for this small home Nearly a decade ago, architects Julian Mitchell and Rachel Dodd were living in a one-bedroom flat in Devonport, Auckland, with a second baby on the way when they found a crumbling duplex on a gently sloping site for

The inspiration for this Waiheke bach comes from an unlikely source

This Waiheke holiday home creates a balance between public and private living. John Irving of Studio John Irving discusses the inspiration for the design The inspiration for this Waiheke bach comes from an unlikely source Is the gabled roof really a nod to the nearby public toilet block? Yes. It’s a great toilet block: the roof is an amazing structure. You describe the owners as “serial offenders”. Does that make them easier to work with?

Your complete 2017 kitchen style forecast

From our lifestyle and cooking habits to material and appliance choices, we discover the latest kitchen trends with the lead designers from Fisher & Paykel Your complete 2017 kitchen style forecast The home of Simon Devitt was built in 1968, though no one knows who designed it originally. After several years living in the house, Devitt asked old friend Jessica Barter from Bureaux to rework the house, including the kitchen, which was outfitted with walnut

Clever architecture has transformed this staircase into an active space

Lloyd Hartley Architects have cleverly reworked the dead space of this entryway into the perfect spot to linger a little longer Clever architecture has transformed this staircase into an active space “I find at parties you’ll say, ‘Right, we’re leaving,’ and one of you will go to the door and then the other one has struck up a new conversation,” says architect Mike Hartley of Lloyd Hartley Architects who, together with Ben Lloyd, designed this

Entries for Home of the Year 2017 are now open

Entries for Home of the Year 2017 are now open. Find out how you can take part in the country’s most prestigious awards for residential architecture The entries for Home of the Year 2017 are now open We’re delighted to announce that entries for Home of the Year 2017 are now open. Home of the Year is the country’s most prestigious awards for residential architecture – and the most lucrative, coming with a $15,000 prize for

A 1950s weatherboard home with a sleek family bathroom

A skylight, clever tile design, and black and white accents create a sleek small space in this Mairangi Bay family bathroom Architects Ben Lloyd and Mike Hartley of Lloyd Hartley Architects Location Mairangi Bay, Auckland Brief A new family bathroom in a 1950s weatherboard home Q&A with architect Ben Lloyd and owners Tracey and Michael Welson What has this renovation involved? Ben Lloyd: As part of a grand-plan alteration to the existing family home, this bathroom was the

This new-build playfully contrasts public and private living

This new-build plays an important role in Wellington’s Oriental Bay. See how clever design has created public and private living spaces Around Wellington, Oriental Parade is widely embraced as the Riviera of the South Pacific. That may not be obvious to a French or Italian tourist (or anyone originating from what used to be termed the Orient) but if you hail from Tawa, Taita or Titahi Bay, it’s second only to after-dark Courteney Place as

Collaboration was the key to completing this tricky new-build

A mixture of intelligent design and collaboration was the key to overcoming the many challenges that faced the completion of this hillside home Collaboration was the key to completing this tricky new-build For Tobin Smith of Christchurch practice CoLab Architecture and his designer client Tim Kelleher of Sons & Co, the challenges of collaboration were never an issue. The two met in passing a decade ago after Tim and his wife Elizabeth had purchased a

This Oriental Bay home balances street theatre with domesticity

This playful new house, designed by Chris Kelly from Architecture Workshop, delicately balances public and private personas in Wellington’s Oriental Bay Q & A with Chris Kelly of Architecture Workshop The design process took a couple of years and a number of iterations. Are we too quick to build? I think all design is an iterative process. Our approach is to do as many design iterations as possible, within the given fee. There are many decisions (about 10,000

Inside a perfectly preserved 1970s home by Claude Megson

In Meadowbank, Auckland, a 1970s marvel by the late Claude Megson is still full of swagger and complexity after being unaltered for four decades Q & A with architect and author Giles Reid Who was Claude Megson? Architect Claude Megson was born in Whangarei and practiced in Auckland from 1962 until his death in 1994. He taught at the University of Auckland from 1965. For much of his lifetime his work was widely considered equal to

A petite bathroom goes big on rustic texture

A newly renovated, petite St Heliers ensuite bathroom by Studio 106 Architect goes big on rustic texture while managing to keep things modern Architect Dion Gosling of Studio 106 Architect Location St Heliers, Auckland Brief An ensuite bathroom in a renovated home Q&A with co-owner, Sandi McDonald Was there an overall approach to the design of this bathroom? We’re not shiny people. We like things to be textural and rustic, but still modern. The tapware is Astra Walker,

The Lyttelton home that took 10 years to come to life

It took 10 years and two major earthquakes, but this house built on a steep hillside section in Lyttelton was worth the wait Q & A with Tobin Smith of CoLab Architecture How did you decide on the form the house was going to take? The site is an interesting wedge shape with steep natural topography that opens and elevates from the street to the rear boundary. The long, linear floor plan was designed to open

A rural new-build blurs the boundaries between inside and out

A new home at Waimauku by Herbst Architects draws inspiration from ‘the African way of living’ to create a home that embraces outside as much as inside A rural new-build blurs the boundaries between inside and out From the outside, this new house by Herbst Architects in the middle of bucolic Waimauku, on the outskirts of West Auckland, presents itself in two contradictory faces. Approaching from the driveway to the south and east, where a

A family home succeeds in bringing beach and city to the suburbs

An architect and an industrial designer succeed in melding beach and city together flawlessly in their family home in Westmere, Auckland A family home succeeds in bringing beach and city to the suburbs Andrew Meiring and Helen Jones had two very good templates to follow when it came to building this house, in a secluded crescent in the Auckland suburb of Westmere. They relished the buzz and grittiness of the bolt-hole they shared in the

A newly-renovated apartment bathroom achieves elegance with marble

Designer Yvette Jay used Carrara marble tiles to bring elegance to this small Grey Lynn apartment bathroom The details Designer Yvette Jay Location Grey Lynn, Auckland Brief Renovate an existing apartment bathroom for maximum impact Q&A with designer Yvette Jay What was the starting point for this bathroom? The beautiful Carrara marble tiles. I had worked with the client before on the flooring in the apartment (a combination of timber and carpet) and we found these tiles

This Waimauku home combines solidity and transparency perfectly

Rather than seek to respond to the site, a new home at Waimauku by Herbst Architects defines the landscape around it with an interplay of solidity and transparency Q & A with Lance and Nicola Herbst of Herbst Architects How did you position the house without many natural elements to respond to? Lance: We were looking to find some good reason to put the building in one place or another. There didn’t seem to be one, as

A design-savvy couple nail holidaying at home

An architect and an industrial designer succeed in melding beach and city together flawlessly in their family home in Westmere, Auckland Q & A with architect and owner Andrew Meiring This isn’t the first time you’ve designed a house for yourself – what did you learn the first times around? I learned not to be too precious and feel like the design had to embody everything I am as an architect. I think you can scare

An airy beach house bathroom fulfills its design goals

An Omaha Beach holiday home’s ensuite bathroom emphasises light and relaxation while managing to accommodate a generous shower space and vanity Designer Julian Guthrie Location Omaha Beach Brief An ensuite bathroom for a holiday home, with a generous shower and vanity space Q&A with designer Julian Guthrie What was the starting point for this bathroom design? It’s a repetition of the materials used around the home, including bagged masonry, band-sawn cedar, marble and raw brass. We wanted to create a

A concrete box on the back of a villa manages to both compare and contrast

A ‘counter-intuitive’ design transformed this old villa into a contemporary, private space without compromising the 110-year-old building’s integrity A villa renovation that blends then and now It’s something of a familiar story, with a much less familiar result. Like a lot of villas, this house had an awkward relationship with its backyard: it sat high above a sloping lawn with a series of lean-tos, the first of which had been added not long after the house

A heritage-listed Auckland apartment gets a beautiful update

A sensitive renovation of a heritage-listed Auckland apartment brings light and space without sacrificing any of its charm The Brooklyn building on Emily Place, Auckland Auckland should be grateful to Sinclair O’Connor. The Fremantle-born architect designed a number of iconic apartment buildings around central Auckland at the start of last century, including both Courtvilles, Hampton Court and the elegant Espano flats at the top of Myers Park. Towards the end of the 1920s, he designed Brooklyn, a

Assembly Architects design a compact home on a Central Otago vineyard

A family home in Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley opts for pared-back simplicity in a lavish landscape In the 1960s, the average New Zealand house size was 128 square metres. Five decades later, interior designer Nikki Wilson, web developer Michael Cox and their daughters Orla, eight, and Fehn, six, live in a home exactly that size in Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley. When you think about it that way, the house has no right to appear in

5 rules of designing a small home with Assembly Architects

Creating a perfectly simplified home in Central Otago was a welcome exercise in leanness for its owners and architects. They share their top tips for designing small 1. Rooms don’t need to be as big as you think. Justin Wright: A room on a plan looks 100 times smaller than it will be. We find clients run measuring tapes around rooms, and want to make those planned spaces bigger. They don’t necessarily appreciate that being

This Banks Peninsula home was constructed in just three days

This beautifully pared-back home on Banks Peninsula comes with a fascinating story – not only was it originally designed as a temporary home that ended up being a permanent one, it was constructed in just three days thanks to its precision manufactured panelling [jwp-video n=”1″] It was originally designed as a small, transitional home for Mike and Brenda Warrander after their adjacent home was extensively damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. This little studio on Banks

A little studio on Banks Peninsula with a big story

Originally designed as a small, transitional home, the owners of this little studio on Banks Peninsula inadvertently found this 65-square-metre home fulfills all their needs [jwp-video n=”1″] The five rules of designing a small home by Makers of Architecture 1 Design flexible spaces for comfort and efficiency. Small homes work best when they’re made up of adaptable, flexible spaces. Design open-plan spaces with multi-use furniture – a stool can function as an extra seat around the dining table or as a

A hut in Cardrona Valley designed as an exercise in going without

The landscape of the Cardrona Valley is big; the 72-square-metre holiday home there that architect Richard Naish of RTA Studio designed for himself and his family is much less so The 5 rules of designing small by Richard Naish of RTA studio [jwp-video n=”1″] 1 Give yourself a tight brief. A tight brief means there’s not a lot of room to go off on a tangent and do unnecessary things. 2 Keep things flexible.

Waiheke architect Vaughn McQuarrie designed this perfectly petite home

A Waiheke Island getaway morphs into a petite, permanent home Waiheke home by Vaughn McQuarrie The morning after the Brexit referendum, I took a ferry to Waiheke Island on an eerily British day of low cloud and light, and dense rain. A short commute from the Matiatia Wharf is a new, small house by Waiheke-based architect Vaughn McQuarrie. It’s a modest home that contrasts a material rawness with detailed perfectionism and balances the charming cottage

This Waiheke Island getaway soon became a permanent home

Working within a modest footprint, architect Vaughn McQuarrie injected drama into the design of this simple Waiheke Island home The 5 rules of designing a small home by Vaughn McQuarrie 1 Design for the sun First and foremost, plan the house to get sun into the main spaces, if not all of them – more of it in the winter, less in the summer. Sunlight can transform even the smallest room. 2 Less is more Minimalism

This little holiday home in Cardrona Valley thinks big

A Cardrona Valley getaway designed by RTA Studios offers big lessons on a small scale A Cardrona Valley hut by RTA Studios that thinks big The landscape of the Cardrona Valley is big; the 72-square-metre holiday home there that architect Richard Naish of RTA Studio designed for himself and his family is much less so. That, of course, was exactly the intention: the home was designed as an exercise in going without, but it still

A 45-square-metre studio designed for an exposed Wellington hilltop

An architect designs a studio with bach connotations for an exposed Wellington site with top views Thurston Studio, Wellington Architect: Cushla Thurston Floor area: 45m2 In 2006, when Wellington couple Cushla and Richard Thurston purchased their mid-century home in Brooklyn, Wellington, they earmarked the flat, barren space at the rear of the property for an art studio. Six years later, tired of schlepping across town to use a space behind his parents’ Seatoun home, Rich, an artist

This Wellington home packs a lot of living into its small frame

This family home may be petite, but it cleverly provides the owners with everything they need Family home, Wellington Architects: First Light Studio Floor area: 86m2 It almost sounds like the perfect brief. “They wanted to do something small, clever, good quality and not too expensive,” says Eli Nuttall of Wellington’s First Light Studio, about his clients’ desires for their house on a sub-divided site in Seatoun. [quote title=”We pride ourselves on doing” green=”true” text=”smaller, smarter and

A bach-style studio with gob-smacking views of Wellington

A Wellington couple transformed the flat, barren space at the back of their property into an open-plan studio with sweeping views – all in just 45m2 Thurston Studio, Wellington Architect: Cushla Thurston Floor area: 45m2 In 2006, when Wellington couple Cushla and Richard Thurston purchased their mid-century home in Brooklyn, Wellington, they earmarked the flat, barren space at the rear of the property for an art studio. Six years later, tired of schlepping across town to use a

A multi-functional Nelson building by Tennent Brown Archictects

Depending on the owners’ needs, this flexible space provides an intriguing retreat for guests, as well as executive meetings Torea Studio, Nelson Architects: Tennent Brown Architects Floor area: 97m2 It is not technically a home but it sometimes functions as one. In fact, this 97-square-metre, three-bedroom building near Nelson by Hugh Tennent and Brenda Solon of Tennent Brown Architects, is deliberately multi-functional: it’s a workspace, a meeting room, a guesthouse, an executive retreat. Its owners (who first

Density done well: Wellington’s visionary Centennial flats

A visionary mid-century social housing project in Wellington stays relevant Centennial Flats Year: 1940 Location: Wellington Architect: Gordon Wilson Everything happens in cycles. Wellington’s Centennial Flats – designed by Ministry of Works architects under Gordon Wilson, and completed in 1940 – were the first block of multi-unit flats designed under the Labour government’s state housing scheme. “The housing problem is of such magnitude,” said a report in the Evening Post in 1938, discussing plans for the

A trio of apartments perched atop a 1906 Wellington warehouse

Wellington’s best apartments are stacked over three levels on top of an existing three-storey building; another example of density done well Wakefield Apartments Project Year: 2001 Location: Wellington Architects: Chris Kelly and James Fenton, Architecture Workshop Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, rooftops all over New Zealand were brutalised, as developers who realised a solid structure could hold a few more floors piled them on as cheaply as they could possibly manage. The former BNZ building (now a