| 89 Davor Popadich Architects: Popadich House ARCHITECTURE T T Karen Phelps Living with the landscape The L-shaped plan wraps around a central courtyard, while a separate studio provides an elevated counterpoint to the main building. Photo: Sam Harnett. STONE INSTALLATION SPECIALISTS Natural stone fabrication and installation Tiling | Free form cladding | Paving Residential and Commercial projects Nationwide Service sales@stoneinstallationspecialists.co.nz www.stoneinstallationspecialists.co.nz HOT WATER BEACH Design and Construction Chris Pollock R.D.1 Whitianga hwbconstruction@xtra.co.nz Mobile 027 490 3524 Perched on a 3.5-hectare coastal site in Hahei in the Coromandel Peninsula, the Popadich House is more than an architect’s home; it is a testament to the harmony between family life, environmental restoration and thoughtful design. Crafted by Davor Popadich for his own family, the house sits lightly within its landscape, offering a flexible, multi-functional environment that accommodates both everyday living and the running of home-based businesses. Its seamless integration with the surrounding environment, and careful attention to detail, earned it the Sir Ian Athfield Award and the NZIA Housing Award at the 2025 Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA awards. When we first purchased this land, it was largely bare,” says Davor. “There were no native plantings, no wildlife habitat. We committed to restoring it as fully as possible, and seeing the birds return and the planting flourish has been incredibly rewarding.” While the site was originally intended as a holiday retreat, it quickly became apparent it would become a full-time family home. At first, we thought we’d just have a spot to camp occasionally,” explains Davor. “But over time, the children were so reluctant to leave that we realised this needed to be our permanent home. It changed the whole way we approached the design. “My wife has been deeply involved in every decision, and our children have participated too. We wanted the design process to be inclusive so that everyone feels invested in the home we’ve created together.” The brief for the house was highly complex, requiring a balance between family life, workspace and environmental sensitivity. Deceptively simple in appearance, Popadich House is a study in careful planning and spatial flexibility. Based on a 600mm rafter grid, the L-shaped plan wraps around a central courtyard, while a separate studio provides an elevated counterpoint to the main building. Wide timber decks and a sheltered courtyard give opportunities for relaxation as well as buffering against the coastal winds. The home’s black-stained structural timbers, natural timber linings, local stone and corrugated steel roof create a subtle palette that responds to the surrounding landscape. A timber shutter in the bathroom frames Lonely Bay, giving the family an intimate connection with the coastal vista. “The design responds directly to the environment,” says Davor. “We face strong winds and heavy rain at times, so the roof and eaves were planned to offer protection, while still letting us enjoy the outdoors. The interior timber finishes are left natural, which makes the spaces feel warm and resilient at the same time.” The site has been radically transformed from its previous farmland state. Native trees and shrubs, pest and weed control and a small orchard have restored habitats for local wildlife. “The house grew out of the idea that architecture can live with the landscape rather than impose on it,” says Davor. “We wanted a home that would allow us to be part of the land, not dominate it.” Davor Popadich Architects has a reputation for projects that blend careful materiality with thoughtful environmental response. The practice works on both local and international projects, specialising in design that responds to context and climate. Established by Davor, a registered architect and fellow of Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA, the studio balances technical precision with a clear sense of human and environmental scale, a philosophy evident throughout Popadich House. “Popadich House demonstrates that a home can be both highly functional and deeply respectful of its environment,” Davor says. “For our family, it is not only a place to live and work, but also a living landscape where architecture, nature and family life exist in harmony.”
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