Chris Tate Architecture wins 2025 TIDA New Zealand Designer New Home of the Year
Congratulations to Chris Tate Architecture, winner of the 2025 TIDA New Zealand Designer New Home of the Year – a home that seems to defy gravity
Overlooking Piha’s iconic black sand beach, this striking new home has been aptly named The Bunker House – inspired by the fierce natural landscape and the coastal fortifications that once dotted Auckland's coastline during World War II.
The brief called for a home where physics and sculpture could merge in unexpected ways.
This vision is brought to life in the daring design – a narrow 300-millimeter pivot point becomes the central axis for a structure that seems to defy gravity.
A bunker-like slot runs along the width of the house, shielding it from the harsh natural elements and the busy summer car park below.
It offers protection, privacy, and a sense of calm, while framing the raw beauty of Piha’s crashing surf, sand dunes, and ever-changing sky.
The materials are deliberately dark and tactile, evoking Piha’s history and mystique, and grounding the home within its dramatic setting.
For the TIDA judges, this is a house that demands attention – challenging perceptions of what a home can be, and capturing both imagination and admiration.
Perched in a remarkable location, its unique structure is a bold response that reflects the unique characteristics of its site.
Congratulations to Chris Tate Architecture, winner of the 2025 TIDA New Zealand Designer New Home of the Year.
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