New Zealand home design

Historically, New Zealand has imported architectural styles from overseas and set our homes apart like ‘objects’ in the landscape, often with little relationship to the surrounding environment, the climate or the position of the sun throughout the day.

But, today, there are many different house designs around the country that reflect the differing contexts in which we live. Contemporary homes are more influenced by geography, climate, and socioeconomic factors, such as whether it is a permanent home or a retreat, located in the city or in the wilds, along with what the local history is, what materials are best suited to the area, and the local and personal preferences.

CONTEMPORARY HOUSE STYLES OF NEW ZEALAND

In the north of New Zealand, where the weather is generally warmer and less blustery, more time can be spent living outside. As a result, local architecture responds to this in many ways with softer, more natural, and layered materials combined with living spaces that open to the outdoors. Lots of natural timber is common. A holiday home in the Coromandel bush overlooking the sea should be treated very differently from a house in the city. Many new architect-designed houses in the north seem open, casual, and free and, maybe, this is a response to the climate and 'The Group' history. In Auckland City, there is more wealth and focus on business and this is reflected in the number of grand houses.

Pitched roof

The pitched roof form is the most common building form in New Zealand, as it is highly practical and an economical way of sheltering human beings. They can also be shaped in a myriad of ways to convey different meanings and have pitched at different angles depending on the climate and topography of the landscape.

Box form

Four walls, a floor, and a ceiling―all at 90-degree angles. Inevitably, box forms have been a popular style of architecture since early human civilization. They are generally and more efficient with space with a maximized floor area, although, with newer computer programs, they are developing an ever-increasing degree of sophistication.

Landscape form

Within New Zealand’s varied environments, some contemporary homes aim to create a poetic synergy with their surrounding landscape by reflecting the individual nuances of the location―from tin miner’s huts to mountain ranges to winding rivers. They often follow the topography of the land and respond to surrounding views of neighboring natural landmarks.

Layered

Houses can be layered in many ways―horizontally, vertically, and materially―to relate the building to its context. For example, on a steep slope with an ocean view, a house can be split into several forms that stack up along the topography, creating vistas of the sea from each form. By comparison, on a tight urban site, the house would most likely be layered vertically. But any home can be layered materially and structurally to create different dimensions and penetrations and overall richness to the form.

Stick

Timber is the most common building material around the Pacific Rim as it is easily available and relatively economical and inexpensive. Homes can be raised off the ground, lightly touching the earth, which works well on steep sites.

Folded – extruded form

A folded or extruded form is when the roof and the wall can be considered as one surface that is cut, shaped, or folded to define spaces and create form, as well as opening the home up to views and providing privacy. Folded roofs can be a contemporary way of interpreting traditional houses styles to develop sympathetic relationships between buildings in a neighborhood.