Behind Our Photoshoot at the Award-Winning Pocket House, Otāhuhu

We recently had the opportunity to style our furniture and textiles in one of DAA’s Pocket Houses—an innovative project that rethinks urban housing.

Designed by Dorrington Atcheson Architects (DAA), the two statement orange-clad homes make smart use of a small “pocket” of land in Otāhuhu, Auckland.

Despite their modest footprint, each house features two bedrooms, a built-in office, and a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area. Set diagonally on the site, each home offers privacy while enjoying a generous courtyard for outdoor living.

We spoke to Tim Dorrington of DAA about the project and its recent recognition as HOME Magazine’s ‘Multi-Unit Home the Year’.

Pocket House challenges the norms of affordable housing, proving that thoughtful design can exist within small budgets. How did this project come about, and what were your initial goals?

We had been playing around with the idea of small-scale, affordable, yet architecturally designed houses for first-home buyers and downsizers. We took it upon ourselves to build this prototype as a proof of concept. We wanted to create affordable yet carefully drafted spaces that kept a focus on gardens and outdoor living—something a bit quirky and different, too. We were also interested in the idea of the right-sized house for the right time in your life. People might need four bedrooms while their children are at home, but once they’ve moved out, they could downsize without compromising on feel or design quality.

What person did you have in mind when designing the houses?

Anyone who wants to be a bit less beholden to banks and debt, really—first-home buyers, people looking to downsize after the kids have left home, singles and couples who aren't looking for big family homes. There seemed to be a bit of a gap in the market for homes suited to these people, with a focus on architecture and difference.

Despite the small 290m2 site, the two houses fit comfortably while offering generous living spaces and private outdoor areas. What key design decisions made this possible?

Each house site is 145m²  with its footprint occupying 36m2 - allowing more room for the outdoor garden space. We modelled the footprint on the size of a double garage, as most folks are familiar with its dimensions and know where it could fit on their property. There is very little to no circulation space, which can often be a waste in many designs. Aside from the stairs, the upstairs hallway doubles as the home office, and that’s essentially all the circulation there is.

Terracotta roofing tiles are used as exterior cladding, creating a unique look that’s rich in colour and texture. What inspired this material choice?

I was flicking through a book on brick houses that a client had lent to me, as they were interested in a contemporary brick home. In the background of one image, I noticed a textured wall with lichen growing on it and couldn't work out what sort of bricks they were. Then it occurred to me that they must be roofing tiles. After that, I called Monier and we went down that rabbit hole. It’s worked out really well—they're surprisingly thermally efficient, which makes sense, as they perform like bricks in that regard. We also love how they work with light and shadow, as well as making a strong visual impact.

What aspect of the project are you most proud of?

How it all turned out, really. It was a bit of a punt to see if we could create an affordable, architect-designed small house that felt rich in materials and landscape. I’m really happy with the result.

Congratulations on the win in HOME’s Home of the Year 2025 awards. Do you have a favourite Città piece from the HOME photoshoot?

There’s a lot to like! The Craft sideboard in the living room and Plinth bedside tables are both elegant oak designs. And there's the Pin lamps that create an intimate atmosphere.

Looking ahead, do you see this as a one-off project, or do you have plans to replicate its ideas on other sites?

We want to replicate it. The idea is to open-source the plans for anyone to use under licence, meaning they significantly reduce their upfront costs before building. We also intend to build more ourselves as well.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside DAA. To learn more about the project, visit Dorrington Atcheson Architects’ website. Head to HOME’s website to explore the finalists and winners of Home of the Year 2025. The winners are also featured in the magazine’s special edition April/May issue, on sale now.