Step Inside Some of the Most Impressive Homes in New Zealand
From mountainous cabins to beachfront sanctuaries.
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A new book by world-renowned photographer Simon Devitt is offering a tour of some of the most architecturally impressive homes in New Zealand.
Titled “Cape to Bluff”, the book brings together 30 buildings, each designed by 30 of the nation’s leading architects. Devitt describes the tour as a “slow walk” through the landscape, in which he invites you to take a look around the homes featured. Its title references the northernmost – Cape Reinga – and southern-most – Bluff – points of the country.
Locations throughout Cape to Bluff range from snowy mountains, to the sun-soaked seafront. While showcasing the breadth of architectural talent and beauty, the book also draws attention to New Zealand’s incredibly diverse landscape. Alongside the photographs are stories penned by Andrea Stevens, who sat down with the studios to get the backstory of each project. Simple, clean layouts have been crafted by award-winning designer Luke Scott.
“Weaving through dreamy and dramatic locations, including a crescent-moon shaped bach in Tutukaka and a bivvy house inspired by a gold miner’s hut overlooking Lake Wakatipu, Cape to Bluff tells not only the story of New Zealand’s fluctuating microclimate and how we respond to creative challenges, but also speaks to how we live today, and what we value,” the publishers say.
“Some of the country’s top architects respond to creative and distinctively New Zealand questions such as: how do you build a calm oasis in the bustling center of Tāmaki Makaurau, a beachfront crib in Omaui capable of withstanding sea-level rise, or a sanctuary in Maniatoto that is comfortable in both sub-zero and mid-thirties temperatures,” they add.
Cape to Bluff launches on November 29 and is priced at $95 NZD (approximately $58 USD). Preorders are being taken now, via Devitt’s website. Explore some of the featured buildings above, and for more design – check out Sam Stewart’s latest commission, which disguises an outdoor furniture set as a simple garden shed.