A gentle architecture of care - where familiarity, warmth, and clarity are woven into a home that nurtures independence and wellbeing.
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Planning prioritises clarity and familiarity, supporting intuitive movement and day-to-day independence. Warm materials, gentle contrasts, and references to past environments create a setting that feels both comforting and legible, reinforcing wellbeing through design.
Matipo Tea House was designed for our client’s mother, Sue, who could no longer remain in Kuranda, Australia, due to dementia. Returning to New Zealand, she needed a home of her own, supporting independence, comfort, and wellbeing, and a second dwelling at the rear of the property provided a private, nurturing retreat. Collaboratively designed with Ethan Hunter Architect, the home balances practicality with human-centred design. Two bedrooms accommodate Sue and a live-in carer, while accessible bathrooms and adaptable features ensure longevity. The brief emphasised warmth, comfort, and familiarity over clinical design. Drawing on memories of Sue’s Kuranda home, wide verandas, red posts, and timber detailing provide familiar cues. Interior finishes and the garden reflect a lush, calming environment, with wandering paths and framed sightlines connecting inside and out. Research into dementia design informed principles but also revealed a wider truth: clarity, comfort, and intuitive spatial design benefit everyone. Warm, tactile finishes, subtle contrasts, and considered colour create spaces that feel clear, inviting, and comforting. The result is a home that nurtures independence, wellbeing, and joy.
Created for the client’s mother, Sue, following her return to New Zealand from Kuranda due to dementia, the home provides a private, nurturing retreat at the rear of the family property - supporting her independence while maintaining a close connection to family.
Creative Director: Kate Pilot
Created during KANAT in collaboration with Ethan Hunter Architects
