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.
The past couple of months have been an incredible whirlwind as we put together Home of the Year 2024. We've been all over the country to homes of grand proportions and of compact footprints. We've visited innovative developments that set the bar for living at density, and we've explored immersive rural, remote, and urban abodes where creativity is at the fore. Congratulations to all the 2024 finalists and winners! It has been a privilege to record the architecture of our time, consider how it is placed, and contemplate what it means as we look forward. The overall winner this year is Boathouse Bay, a masterful combination of housing typologies that winds along the coast at Snells Beach. Here, Crosson Architects delivered much more than just homes — rather, the architects…
Design Nawabari Inspired by the Japanese art form of binding with ropes to forge close bonds, a new collection, of the same name, by BoConcept and global architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) explores the concept in a contemporary format. The design, led by BIG's Jakob Lange, seeks a new way of expressing furniture. “We were interested in the forms that are created when a material is bound with rope. The result is these sculptural organic shapes that form the core of this furniture family,” he says. Nawabari comprises two sofa sizes, an armchair, two coffee table sizes, and two pouffe sizes, all of which can be upholstered across BoConcept's fabric offering. Nawabari is available in New Zealand from BoConcept. @boconcept_nz Twisted sisters Brazilian artist Maico Camilo embarked on his…
Incorporating spaces from Australasia's top architectural brands, Residium takes the concept of a showroom into the future. It's an incredible space, where innovation is at the fore — something to which Powersurge is no stranger, with its ever-evolving collection of bespoke artisanal metal products. “Residium is more than just a showroom or a showcase for ideas — it's a vital community hub for the building and design sectors,” Hugh tells us of the destination, which will host a regular programme of events, workshops, and talks, all of which will be open to the public. “Powersurge is a prime example of a brand that we are immensely proud to host at Residium. [These artisans are] legendary in the New Zealand building and design industry,” he says. Since launching its specialist Home…
DESIGN Maurice & I This year's premiere, Maurice & I, is a New Zealand feature-length documentary celebrating the hugely influential architectural partnership of Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney, and their legacy that was all but lost in the devastating Christchurch earthquakes. The approach to design of the two architects, as well as their signature use of materials, transformed the face of Christchurch in the '60s and '70s and influenced their architectural peers throughout New Zealand. Within a short decade, Christchurch was to shrug off its reputation for stuffy Georgian and neo-Gothic architecture for a distinctive, brutalist style that was bold, modern, and often controversial. Almost the entire built legacy of Warren and Mahoney was destroyed following a series of earthquakes in 2011. Among the buildings that suffered major damage…
ART Aotearoa Art Fair Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland 18–21 April The fair will showcase contemporary art from leading galleries in Australasia. As the event is under new ownership and in a new venue, it will be interesting to explore the direction it takes. Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply curious about art, the fair offers a diverse selection of works, including paintings, sculptures, prints, and ceramics, catering to every artistic taste. The opening night party has tended to be an excellent chance to rub elbows with leading, colourful characters from the gallery circuit. MUSIC New Cuts Old Music Te Uru, Auckland Until 26 May A collaborative installation by Richard Reddaway, Grant Takle, and Terry Urbahn, featuring a blend of found-object constructions and painted vinyl records, offering a unique experience…
DESIGN This year's programme features an impressive 50 buildings, spanning the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. More than 40 activities are on offer, including guided and self-guided tours, exhibitions, and talks given by architects and clients. Categories for the 2024 programme are: Public, Commercial, Mixed-Use, Arts and Culture, Education, Sacred Spaces, Residential, Recreational, Designed Landscapes, and Guided Walks. Category highlights include: Public — Former Law Courts building Architects: Ministry of Works, 1980–85 Enjoy a guided tour of the former Law Courts building, which proudly displays its post-war brutalism. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore two District Court rooms and to experience the former High Court room in its original state. Don't miss the Gothic Revival details that remain from the original building that once stood on this site. Education…
