Wawata by Julian Guthrie

Wawata House by Julian Guthrie is a new coastal residence on Waiheke Island, designed as a private family retreat that responds directly to its dramatic hillside site. Set between sweeping northwest-facing sea views and dense surrounding bush, the home carefully negotiates both exposure and seclusion, with a public walkway running along its eastern boundary adding an additional layer of privacy and consideration to the design.

Most recently, the project was recognised as Coastal Home of the Year at this year’s HOME Magazine Home of the Year Awards, celebrating its considered response to site, materiality, and coastal living. The architecture is defined by a powerful yet restrained form — a long in-situ concrete wall that anchors the home into the slope, acting both structurally and metaphorically as a buttress to the land. From this grounded base, a lighter glass pavilion is suspended toward the view, creating a striking contrast between solidity and transparency.

The result is a refined, elegant retreat — a quietly exceptional home that sits effortlessly above the landscape of Waiheke Island.

We sat down with ECC Project Lead, Katie Garton to discuss the thinking behind Wawata House — exploring the brief, key design decisions, and how lighting brings the home to life.

What was the original brief from the client? 

While there wasn’t a formal brief in the traditional sense, the direction was guided by a strong understanding of Julian’s design language and what has worked successfully across his previous projects. The home, set on Waiheke Island, was always envisioned as a relaxed yet refined retreat — something that feels effortless and coastal, but still considered and quietly luxurious. The lighting needed to complement this balance, enhancing the architecture without overpowering it.

Was the home designed as a retreat or more of a functional family hub? 

The home was conceived primarily as a weekend retreat — a place to escape the pace of the city. It’s designed to feel calm and restorative, with spaces that encourage slowing down and enjoying the surrounding landscape.

Were there any challenges you were able to overcome together?

The project unfolded quite intuitively, with Julian and Georgie bringing a clear vision and strong sense of materiality. The architectural layout — open living spaces on the lower level flowing out to the outdoors, with more private bedrooms above — provided a logical framework for the lighting design.

Key considerations included working around skylights, enhancing the stairwell that connects the two levels, and ensuring the lighting complemented the material palette of timber, stone, and concrete. With an abundance of natural light from expansive glazing, the approach was intentionally restrained — avoiding over-lighting and instead focusing on key moments and functional zones.

Decorative lighting also played an important role, with floor and table lamps introduced to create softer, more intimate layers of light, adding warmth and a sense of ease to the interiors.

How does the lighting support the overall project? 

Flexibility was central to the lighting approach. Much of the scheme is dimmable, with adjustable fittings that allow the spaces to adapt from day to night. This ensures the home can shift in mood depending on how it’s being used — whether that’s quiet evenings or more social gatherings. The lighting also allows for evolving elements within the home, such as artwork, to be highlighted and reinterpreted over time.

How does the atmosphere differ between day and night?

During the day, the home is filled with natural light, thanks to large glazed openings, expansive windows, and thoughtfully placed skylights. This creates a bright, open, and airy environment that feels deeply connected to the outdoors.

As evening sets in, the atmosphere becomes more intimate and layered. Carefully positioned lighting begins to highlight the textures of the interior — washing over concrete walls, picking up the grain of timber, and adding depth to stone surfaces. Rather than a uniform brightness, the spaces transition into something warmer and more atmospheric, with pockets of light that create a calm, inviting, and lived-in feel.

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Products used:

Tiling Eave – Hunza

Light Shadow Spot — Flos Architectural

Easy Kap Downlight — Flos Architectural

Fora 70 Table Lamp — Bover

Heaven Chair — Emu

Oslo 100 Wall Light — Astro Lighting

Thin Surface Mount — Juniper

13 Carbon Double Outlet USB-C Faceplate – ZETR

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Julian Guthrie

Photography: Simon Devitt

ECC Project Lead: Katie Garton