Homes Archives

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

Architect Belinda George discusses her award winning home

Overlooking Mahurangi Inlet sits Belinda George’s minimalist and rustic home. She chats about the design process and what it was like to be her own client [jwp-video n=”1″] Q&A with architect Belinda George How was designing your own home different from designing for clients? It’s so personal. When working for other people, I endeavour to get some of their personality into my buildings. You’re always thinking about what they’re going to respond to; what’s going to

A Remuera home by Geoff Newman is given a sympathetic update

A solid 1960s breeze block home in Remuera is reinterpreted for modern day living while honouring Geoff Newman’s brutalist features A Remuera home by Geoff Newman is given a sympathetic update Geoff Newman didn’t design many houses but in 1963 he did for criminal lawyer Peter Williams the end of a cul-de-sac in Remuera. A street where you’ll also find houses by Ron Sang, the Group, Claude Megson and more. The original structure was something of a fortress

The Home of the Year winners from the past 22 years

From humble beginnings, Home of the Year has become the country’s most prestigious prize for residential architecture. We look back at the award’s 22 diverse winners The Home of the Year winners from the past 22 years

An inner-city Wellington home uses its small footprint in an ingenious way

An inner-city home on a tiny Wellington site trades space for location and meticulous detail, showing a small footprint is no impediment to grandeur [jwp-video n=”1″] An inner-city Wellington home uses its small footprint in an ingenious way All too often, more space means more room for chaos. For Amanda and Luke Pierson, there was little attraction in having a big backyard for themselves and their growing children: in fact, they grew rather tired of

5 design trends from the 2017 Home of the Year finalists

The finalists in Home of the Year 2017 share some important commonalities. Samsung discover the six design trends that hold the key to a winning home 5 design trends from the 2017 Home of the Year finalists They are all different, built in different parts of the country on budgets small and large, for clients from all walks of life. And yet, during the recent judging for Home of the Year, a few distinct themes

New Zealand’s best city home responds masterfully to a difficult site

Sitting on a busy road in Point Chevalier, Guy Tarrant’s family home is an elegant response on an awkward site in a suburban setting [jwp-video n=”1″] New Zealand’s best city home responds masterfully to a difficult site During the construction of Guy Tarrant and Debra Millar’s house in Point Chevalier, Auckland, neighbours ran bets on what the building was actually going to be. On a wedge between a quiet side street and the very busy

An award-winning home in Mahurangi has a distinct New Zealand feel

Richly detailed and grand without ever being pretentious, it’s easy to see why Belinda George’s home won Best Retreat at the 2017 Home of the Year awards [jwp-video n=”1″] An award-winning home in Mahurangi has a distinct New Zealand feel As Auckland expands, the small towns within commuting distance are being developed into suburban satellites, and once-rural communities are gradually merging with urban centres. But some pockets are changing faster than others and, for whatever

A 1960s concrete fortress is softened through a clever use of light and wood

A solid 1960s home in Remuera, originally designed by Geoff Newman, is immaculately transformed thanks to the expert eye of architect Lisa Webb A 1960s concrete fortress is softened through a clever use of light and wood Geoff Newman didn’t design many houses: he’s better known for his work on the Whanganui Memorial Hall and later – though less belovedly – on the Auckland Harbour Board building. But in 1963 he designed a house for

Why the winner of Home of the Year 2017 was chosen

Listen as HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green chats about the winner and runner up of Home of the Year on the RNZ Sunday Morning show [jwp-video n=”1″] Why the winner of Home of the Year 2017 was chosen HOME editor Simon Farrell-Green sat down with Wallace Chapman on the Radio New Zealand Sunday Morning show to discuss this year’s Home of the Year winner. The Cambridge Townhouse by Christopher Beer Architect took out the coveted prize

Small is beautiful: Celebrating small homes

We’re celebrating small homes with a whole range of minuscule marvels, in the hope that they will encourage people to build small. In the past 50 years New Zealand house sizes, like those in Australia and the U.S., have ballooned. In the 1960s, the average New Zealand house size was 128 square metres. More recently, that figure has jumped to over 205 square metres. At the same time, everyone is complaining about how expensive it is

An origami-like workspace, meeting room and guest house

Innovative in design and construction, this Nelson studio has a floor area of just 97m2 while managing to be a multi-functional workspace, meeting room, guesthouse and executive retreat 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,

The winning houses from the Home of the Year awards

From an urbane courtyard house in Point Chevalier to a rural retreat in Mahurangi we look at the winning homes from this year’s Home of the Year awards [jwp-video n=”1″] Supreme winner of Home of the Year The supreme winner of Home of the Year is a thoroughly urban house in Cambridge, a provincial town better known for bungalows and roses. The house was designed a young architect for a teacher and an artist who moved from

Why more homes should follow the courtyard model

Ross Jenner, an architect and academic, designed his own courtyard home with both views and introspection in mind. He discusses why courtyard form is the way to go [jwp-video n=”1″] Why more homes should follow the courtyard model The home of Ross and Chris Jenner bares little resemblance to a New Zealand house with its white plaster forms and layered interior spaces. Ross and Chris found the steep bank of a site in Remuera in the early

Architect Julian Guthrie on the respectful renovation of his 1960s home

With a respectful renovation, architect Julian Guthrie maximises a modernist home that efficiently fits five bedrooms into its modest footprint [jwp-video n=”1″] Architect Julian Guthrie on the respectful renovation of his 1960s home You bought the place at auction when no one else bid – what put everyone off? It’s not your quintessential Remuera gingerbread house, but that was its most enticing aspect for us. The house was largely untouched, but it had escaped a

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’

Home of the Year 2017: Cambridge Town House

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 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 Waikato, by

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 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”]

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