Nicola Manning Design wins 2025 TIDA New Zealand Apartment of the Year
Congratulations to Nicola Manning of Nicola Manning Design, winner of the 2025 TIDA New Zealand Apartment of the Year – a celebration of industrial character
Sitting high above a commercial building in Newmarket, this two-storey penthouse apartment already had great bones – but it was ready for a major transformation.
The renovation celebrates the building’s original industrial character, embracing its concrete and steel construction rather than concealing it.
Downstairs, the concrete floor has been beautifully repolished, while the exposed beams and service pipes are now finished in black, contrasting with softly painted, warm white walls.
Pops of colour bring energy to the monochrome palette, complemented by a much improved new lighting scheme.
In the kitchen, the back wall sits beneath a mezzanine floor.
Black steel beams and services are now a feature, while above, a new reeded glass balustrade adds texture and frames the space.
Suspended in the double-height void above the kitchen and dining area, a Bocci pendant of hand-blown glass spheres creates a dramatic focal point – visible from both levels of the apartment.
Upstairs, the redesigned layout combines two former bedrooms and ensuites to create a generous master suite – complete with a walk-in wardrobe, spacious bedroom, and elegant ensuite.
The TIDA judges praised the interior designer for significantly improving the functionality of the apartment while acknowledging and enhancing its original industrial aesthetic.
Congratulations to Nicola Manning of Nicola Manning Design, winner of the 2025 TIDA New Zealand Apartment of the Year.
Home kitchen bathroom commercial design
