Inside An Architect’s Own Remote Island Home | The Coastal Home of the Year

WAIHEKE ISLAND
An architect’s own island home set within nature, Wawata House is New Zealand's Coastal Home of the Year.

Positioned in a remarkable coastal setting on Waiheke Island, this project explores a deeply personal approach to architecture — one shaped by an intimate understanding of site, landscape, and the rhythms of living close to the sea. Designed by its architect owner, Julian Guthrie, the home reflects a careful balance between retreat and connection.

Surrounded by nature, the architecture responds quietly to its environment. A restrained material palette allows the house to recede into the landscape, while carefully framed openings capture views of the coastline, vegetation, and shifting light. Indoor and outdoor spaces flow seamlessly, reinforcing a sense of immersion in the natural world.

In this cinematic house tour, we explore Wawata House and the ideas behind it.

Explore the full feature → https://homemagazine.nz/coastal-home-...

Architecture: Julian Guthrie Architecture
Build: James Bros Ltd
Cladding: RK Timber
Tapware: Plumbline
Appliances: Fisher & Paykel
Fires: FL Bone
Key Furniture: Studio Italia, Cult, ECC, John Stephens, Wolf & South

Home of the Year is brought to you in partnership with Peter Fell, Dulux, CSR, Studio Italia, and Feltex.