2026

The Blackbird

Completed

Grey Lynn New House

Winner of the 2019 NZIA Auckland Housing Award for New House — this crisp, black metal-clad home in Grey Lynn demonstrates how a hard-working plan can turn the constraints of an inner-city cross-lease site into a genuinely generous family home. Set up a private driveway with off-street car parking tucked neatly alongside, The Blackbird sits quietly on its section, its low-maintenance black corrugate exterior giving nothing away from the street. Inside, everything opens up. Three bedrooms, a dedicated home office, and two living areas are all arranged around an oversized central hallway — the spine of the house — that maximises sunlight and lends a sense of volume so every room feels bigger than its footprint suggests.

Every square metre working hard

Making full use of the site, the plan leaves nothing wasted and nothing cramped. A dedicated scullery and laundry sit tucked neatly behind the kitchen, stashing away the business of family life without it spilling into the main living areas. Exterior courtyards expand the living options and blur into a watercoloured groundcover garden vista from inside — a considered move on a constrained Grey Lynn section that gives the house a sense of breathing room it might not otherwise have.

Playful interiors that celebrate family life

The exterior may be crisp and restrained, but the interiors are playful and full of personality. Geometric detailing in the main kitchen and living area, colourful tiles in the bathrooms and on the front porch, and carefully considered joinery throughout make this a home that rewards a closer look. A clever home that celebrates busy family life with beauty — recognised with the 2019 NZIA Auckland Housing Award for New House, a 2020 TIDA New Zealand Architect-Designed Kitchens Finalist placing, and a feature in NZ House and Garden.

Building a new home on a constrained or cross-lease site in Grey Lynn or the wider Auckland area?