82 | Studio Brick Architects T T Anne Boswell Creating a cheerful home to be enjoyed The home is warm, fun and playful, with materials that exude a relaxed and homely vibe. Photos: David Straight “We’re all about elegant, sculptural and sometimes unconventional architectural solutions to briefs of all shapes, sizes and budgets.” ARCHITECTURE Studio Brick Architects’ Jeremy Brick feels his latest award shortlisting is particularly special, and so he should – it’s for his own home. Matuku Moana has been shortlisted as a finalist in both the 2025 Architecture NZ Interior Awards in the residential category and the New Zealand Institute of Architecture’s Local Architecture Awards for the Waikato & Bay of Plenty regions in the housing category. “The unique point is that this project is where my wife, our three-and-a-half year old son and I call home,” Jeremy says. “The house was finished in April 2024, and we have loved every moment of living in it. It is a house that feels right for us.” Studio Brick Architects is no stranger to awards, having won the 2021 HOME Magazine Rural Home of the Year, the 2021 NZIA Local Award Winner – Housing, and the 2021 Best Awards – Silver Pin for its ‘Hill to Horizon’ house. It also had its Lake Tarawera home featured on TVNZ’s Grand Designs NZ in 2022. Jeremy studied architecture in Auckland, working for a couple of architectural firms in the city before moving to Papamoa in 2019 and starting Studio Brick Architects. A sole practitioner, Jeremy has undertaken a wide variety of projects throughout the North Island, from alterations to new homes and small commercial projects. “We’re all about elegant, sculptural and sometimes unconventional architectural solutions to briefs of all shapes, sizes and budgets,” he says. “Through our thoughtful and inclusive relationships with our clients, we offer the complete architectural experience from design, costing and documentation to construction observation.” When it came to creating his own piece of paradise, Jeremy wanted to design a home that stood out as unique in Papamoa’s dense housing environment. And, in order to keep the budget in check, he and his wife had always dreamed of building a smaller house. “By keeping the budget low, we were able to splash out on some high-quality materials inside the house, where we would experience them during our daily routines,” Jeremy says. The couple purchased their section in 2019 from their neighbours. The name Motuku Moana (white-faced heron) has special meaning for the property, referring to a period where their neighbours hand-raised one of the birds after it blew out of a macrocarpa tree in a storm. “We are fortunate to still see the birds as they fly back and forth from their nests,” Jeremy says. “It feels special in the urban sprawl of Papamoa.” Built by Totara Construction, Matuku Moana has a bold exterior clad in corrugate, which at first glance gives the house the appearance of a simple, gabled building. “But if you look closely, you’ll see there are some highly considered areas and detailing that give the building an ‘object in the landscape’ feeling,” Jeremy says. Inside, the home is warm, fun and playful, with materials that exude a relaxed and homely vibe. However, it is a house of two halves: downstairs is light and playful, while upstairs is moody and textured. Jeremy says the feeling of calm inside his home is something he hopes to create for all his clients. “I want people to feel at peace in their own home,” he says. Being shortlisted for not one but two awards this year is a source of pride for Jeremy. “Even more so because it is our home that is being recognised,” he says. “It is also important for my business to keep that recognition going. It is also a great excuse to take a moment to celebrate all the effort that goes on in the background. “It is my aim to create quality, long-lasting, playful and cheerful architecture that families can enjoy.” Building Architectural Legacies totaraconstruction.com From new builds to renovations, we work closely with architects and clients to deliver results that stand the test of time. Totara Construction is a locally owned and operated construction company servicing the wider Tauranga area. 027 213 5012 matt@totaraconstruction.com
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