HOME covers the best New Zealand architecture, design and interiors. It features inspirational, ingenious and just plain breathtaking homes from all over the country – as well as new restaurants, exciting art and the latest furniture releases.
WHILE MANY HOMES strive to tell stories of innovation, possibility, and newness, others speak more of the past. What stood out as we brought this issue together were those that offered a dual perspective — of past and future — holding the present in the stories of their current occupants. Each revealed a rich and layered narrative, walking the fine line between contemporary expression and a respect for the legacy of place — and for the designs and structures that came before. On the edge of Lake Wakatipu, Sumich Chaplin Architects reimagines an existing dwelling, uniting its once-separated parts into a compelling whole. The design honours the original intent while leaning into the rugged luxury of a setting where sheep graze freely just beyond the glass. In Redcliffs, +MAP Architects…
Tajimi Acme has expanded its classic Tajimi range with a new collection of tumblers. Originally crafted to strike the perfect balance between form and function, Tajimi quickly became a favourite for green tea, coffee, and wine. Now, the new additions cater to more diversity — the short tumbler, pictured, is the go-to for G&Ts, muddled cocktails, and coffee, while its tall counterpart is the vessel for beers, long drinks, and highball-style cocktails. Crafted in Tajimi, Japan, these vessels have a matte exterior; a soft, tactile feel, and a glazed interior for a smooth pour. @acmecupco Flax cubes The latest release from Lucy Tupu Studio is the Flax Cube — a bold collection of small but striking pieces inspired by the designer’s Samoan heritage. Part of the broader Flax Collection —…
Towards Modernism: The Walter Cook Collection at Te Papa, is a richly illustrated celebration of one of New Zealand’s most significant and thoughtfully assembled decorative arts collections. Over 25 years, collector Walter Cook, driven by a clear vision and working with modest means, curated a remarkable array of glass, ceramics, and metalwork that traces the evolution of design from the Arts and Crafts movement through to British and European modernism of the 1970s. Gifted to the nation in the 1990s, the collection features over 300 objects by celebrated designers including William Morris, Christopher Dresser, Archibald Knox, Susie Cooper, and Stig Lindberg. Each piece reflects Cook’s discerning taste and his belief in the enduring value of good design. Written by Justine Olsen, Curator Decorative Art and Design at Te Papa, the…
HERE, IN THE Boffi Laundry, the future is realised. It’s a space that underscores Fisher & Paykel’s pioneering innovation, turning its gaze here on the laundry, but not as we know it. This is the Science of Fabric Care, a balanced ecosystem of appliances designed not just to simply function, to wash and to dry, but to cherish and preserve, marking a shift from utility to experience, and from chore to care. At its heart is the Fabric Care collection, a suite that includes Steam Care Washers, Heat Pump Dryers, and the recently released Fabric Care Cabinet, each designed to be gentle, precise, and beautifully integrated. Interconnectivity between appliances introduces sophisticated syncing for intuitive control from one centralised, Wi-Fi-enabled system. The Fabric Care Cabinet, in particular, is a revelation. It…
THE HOUSE IS part of Mataka Station — 1169 hectares of protected bush and rolling pasture on the Bay of Islands' northern coastline. Here, a 22-hectare freehold parcel sits like a promontory above the water, its modestly scaled home embedded in the land’s natural contours. Owners lease the balance back to the working station, allowing for privacy and space, without the weight of stewardship. Here, kiwi roam at night. The station has one of the largest populations of kiwi on a single property in New Zealand. Three in particular frequent this home as the light slips away, often roaming around the deck and undergrowth, their burrow metres from the front door. It’s a special place. From the base of the site, the journey upwards sets the tone: past a low-slung…
“WITH THE DESIGN, we wanted to anchor the house within the wilderness aspect of the site, creating a strong connection to the surrounding forest,” says co-designer Toby Chapman-Smith. The home expresses a grounded sense of purpose and simplicity, with a raw, almost industrial material palette that harmonizes with the untouched landscape to the north. It offers a quiet sense of refuge, immersed in nature and thoughtfully distanced from the rhythm of suburban life beyond. The design was inspired by the 2016 Home of the Year winner, K Valley House by Herbst Architects, with its hardy corrugated iron exterior and an interior defined by its natural materiality and earthy simplicity. Here, that simplicity unfolds with a restrained palette of materials. To the exterior, concrete and steel; inside, the structure is exposed…
