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Designed by: Landmark Homes Hawke's Bay & Project Zero Architecture
Photography by: Deanna Onan, Open2View
Designed by Landmark Homes Hawke’s Bay & Project Zero Architecture
From the group home builder:
Some homes are designed around a plan – others are shaped by the land.
For the owners of this home, building near Te Mata Peak meant embracing the outlook, light, and sense of calm their site offered.
Their vision was clear: a home that welcomed the sun, framed the peak, and connected daily life to the land.
From the outset, their brief to Landmark Homes Hawke’s Bay was simple but powerful – walk through the front door and see Te Mata Peak.
This drove every design decision.
The home needed to flow with purpose, maximise natural light, and create effortless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The site itself was both the greatest asset and the biggest challenge.
Elevated and private, it enjoyed sweeping views but required extensive reshaping.
There was an existing 1980s home present on the site which had faced the opposite / wrong way – turning its back on the sun and views of the peak.
Landmark Homes removed it, then cut into the natural rise, excavating and retaining the land to create a level platform for the new design.
Another complexity came from an existing swimming pool – initially planned to stay, it disrupted the flow of the new home.
Midway through construction, the owners chose to remove it and reposition a new pool on the northern side, directly connected to the living spaces.
This bold decision simplified the layout, improved sun access, and created a seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor living.
Once the site challenges were resolved, the design fell naturally into place.
A three zoned layout provided deliberate separation between areas of use: the main suite in one wing with walk-in wardrobe, ensuite and library, and a guest wing opposite for family and visitors.
The centre zone features the kitchen, dining and living areas – capturing the sun and peak views – with large sliders opening to outdoor living decks, portico, and landscaped grounds and pool area.
Architecturally, the home blends grounded simplicity with refined detail.
Steep gable rooflines, vaulted ceilings, and a 3m stud in the main living area add scale and light.
Hinuera stone cladding connects the home to its rural surrounds and reappears as interior features.
Refined and timeless material choices ensure the design complements rather than competes with the landscape.
The interior, developed with Landmark Homes’ colour consultant, reflects the owners’ wish for modern comfort with character.
Neutral tones provide a base for rich accents of rust, olive, charcoal, and brass.
Standout details include gold mesh cabinetry and a temperature-controlled wine cellar that nods to one owner’s wine industry background.
See the related kitchen story
Credit List
Group home builderLandmark Homes Hawke's Bay & Project Zero Architecture | BuilderBuilder Reef Construction |
Kitchen designer/manufacturerDetailed Joinery | Interior designerDecor Design |
LandscapePollen Workshop | Pool design/installNarellan Pools |
CladdingFlashclad Dualbord vertical cladding; Hinuera stone splitstone | RoofStratco Hiland Tray |
Window/door joineryAPL, Thermal Metro and Residential Suite. | Main flooring – living areasNatures Oak from Carpet Court |
Bedroom flooringBremworth Lattice Wool carpet | Bathroom tilesDorian, graphite matt 600x600, from Tile Warehouse |
WallcoveringsMaster bedroom – James Dunlop Textiles, Toscana- panel-7496; media room wallpaper – Resene Unify E313504; guest bedroom – Resene Unify E313503 | PaintResene 1/8 Thorndon Cream; library feature colour – Resene Jurassic |
General heatingDaikin Ducted Central Heating System, from Mill Electrical | Control systemsPDL by Schneider Electric – Wiser; Smart Home System; Sonos Audio system |
Feature lightingPowder room – Tom Dixon Melt Chandelier; dining room – Nightworks Duet Pendant | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Highly Commended |
Designed by Landmark Homes Hawke’s Bay & Project Zero Architecture
From the group home builder:
Some homes are designed around a plan – others are shaped by the land.
For the owners of this home, building near Te Mata Peak meant embracing the outlook, light, and sense of calm their site offered.
Their vision was clear: a home that welcomed the sun, framed the peak, and connected daily life to the land.
From the outset, their brief to Landmark Homes Hawke’s Bay was simple but powerful – walk through the front door and see Te Mata Peak.
This drove every design decision.
The home needed to flow with purpose, maximise natural light, and create effortless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The site itself was both the greatest asset and the biggest challenge.
Elevated and private, it enjoyed sweeping views but required extensive reshaping.
There was an existing 1980s home present on the site which had faced the opposite / wrong way – turning its back on the sun and views of the peak.
Landmark Homes removed it, then cut into the natural rise, excavating and retaining the land to create a level platform for the new design.
Another complexity came from an existing swimming pool – initially planned to stay, it disrupted the flow of the new home.
Midway through construction, the owners chose to remove it and reposition a new pool on the northern side, directly connected to the living spaces.
This bold decision simplified the layout, improved sun access, and created a seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor living.
Once the site challenges were resolved, the design fell naturally into place.
A three zoned layout provided deliberate separation between areas of use: the main suite in one wing with walk-in wardrobe, ensuite and library, and a guest wing opposite for family and visitors.
The centre zone features the kitchen, dining and living areas – capturing the sun and peak views – with large sliders opening to outdoor living decks, portico, and landscaped grounds and pool area.
Architecturally, the home blends grounded simplicity with refined detail.
Steep gable rooflines, vaulted ceilings, and a 3m stud in the main living area add scale and light.
Hinuera stone cladding connects the home to its rural surrounds and reappears as interior features.
Refined and timeless material choices ensure the design complements rather than competes with the landscape.
The interior, developed with Landmark Homes’ colour consultant, reflects the owners’ wish for modern comfort with character.
Neutral tones provide a base for rich accents of rust, olive, charcoal, and brass.
Standout details include gold mesh cabinetry and a temperature-controlled wine cellar that nods to one owner’s wine industry background.
See the related kitchen story
[clean_tags]
Credit List
Group home builderLandmark Homes Hawke's Bay & Project Zero Architecture | BuilderBuilder Reef Construction |
Kitchen designer/manufacturerDetailed Joinery | Interior designerDecor Design |
LandscapePollen Workshop | Pool design/installNarellan Pools |
CladdingFlashclad Dualbord vertical cladding; Hinuera stone splitstone | RoofStratco Hiland Tray |
Window/door joineryAPL, Thermal Metro and Residential Suite. | Main flooring – living areasNatures Oak from Carpet Court |
Bedroom flooringBremworth Lattice Wool carpet | Bathroom tilesDorian, graphite matt 600x600, from Tile Warehouse |
WallcoveringsMaster bedroom – James Dunlop Textiles, Toscana- panel-7496; media room wallpaper – Resene Unify E313504; guest bedroom – Resene Unify E313503 | PaintResene 1/8 Thorndon Cream; library feature colour – Resene Jurassic |
General heatingDaikin Ducted Central Heating System, from Mill Electrical | Control systemsPDL by Schneider Electric – Wiser; Smart Home System; Sonos Audio system |
Feature lightingPowder room – Tom Dixon Melt Chandelier; dining room – Nightworks Duet Pendant | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Highly Commended |
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