It’s a pleasure to be back for 2026. Our first issue is always a special one — a moment to return to work with fresh perspective, renewed energy, and the inspiration that comes from a long Kiwi summer spent slowing down and looking closely.
In our February / March issue, we visit houses that challenge, surprise and inspire — from the limestone hills of Waipara to the sweeping coastal landscape of Pauanui.
At Tara Iti, we explore a finely considered courtyard house centred around an old red tractor; in Auckland, we step inside a 126-year-old church thoughtfully reimagined as four apartments.
Elsewhere, we revisit the mid-century Mann House in Mt Albert, now offered for sale for the first time in more than two decades; catch up with France-based multidisciplinary artist Jason Pocklington, whose latest body of work is an ode to Tāmaki Makaurau and the ubiquitous weatherboard; speak with Hoxha Bailey Architects about an ambitious addition to a double-fronted villa in Herne Bay; explore an iconic Ōrākei Basin home of sweeping gestures and dramatic expression by Wendy Shacklock — and much, much more.
For the HOME team, the start of the year also marks the much-anticipated announcement of the Home of the Year finalists. Selected from an exceptionally strong field, this year’s 25 finalists reflect a rich diversity of architectural thinking — from homes grounded deeply in place and context, to those offering inventive responses to complex sites and constraints.
The finalists span the country, from Northland to Otago. Our 2026 judges — Belinda George of Belinda George Architects, Chris Tate of Chris Tate Architecture, and architectural writer and editor Federico Monsalve — now face the formidable task of selecting each of the category winners, and ultimately the one home that stands apart, which will be named the 2026 Home of the Year. All winners will be announced at the end of March and featured in the next issue of HOME.
— Clare Chapman
