Chilton + Mayne Architecture wins 2026 TIDA New Zealand Designer New Home of the Year

A special project from the outset, the brief called for a family home to support the owners as they age, while remaining highly functional for everyday family life.

It needed to work equally well indoors and out, provide shelter from prevailing easterly winds, and balance openness to the street with a strong sense of privacy.

The layout is arranged around a sheltered courtyard – a private outdoor room serving as both a climatic buffer and the social heart of the house.

Simple mono-pitched pavilions frame distinct views and create a series of sheltered outdoor spaces, with the primary living pavilion at the front of the site opening directly to the pool and central courtyard.

This establishes a strong connection between interior and exterior living, allowing spaces to extend outward, while remaining protected from wind and sun.

Extended rooflines provide shelter and frame outlooks across the golf course, with carefully positioned openings that balance views and privacy without compromising the sense of retreat.

Inside and out, a restrained palette of stone and timber creates continuity and warmth.

Stone elements anchor the home, complemented by timber linings that introduce texture and an intimate scale

Inside, the deliberately simple planning maintains a clear relationship and natural flow between the public and private zones.

Meanwhile, controlled natural light throughout the interior creates a subtle interplay of shadow across the material palette.

The TIDA judges noted how the result is an inviting and exceptionally comfortable long-term home which demonstrates a carefully considered response to site, climate and lifestyle.

Congratulations to Chilton + Mayne Architecture – winner of the 2026 TIDA New Zealand Designer New Home of the Year.

Story by: Trendsideas