Welcome to this month’s featured project, an inside look at Pods on Pilot: a striking 324m² pod-style home in Ngāhinapōuri, Ōhaupō, completed in 2026.
Project Description:
Designed as a collection of contemporary pavilions, Pods on Pilot celebrates simple architectural forms, seamless indoor-outdoor living, and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
Three distinct pods separate the home's key living zones, creating privacy while framing a series of sheltered courtyards, landscaped gardens, and outdoor entertaining spaces. Expansive glazing and carefully positioned picture windows capture views across the property, while lush planting weaves throughout the design, bringing nature into the heart of the home.
A timeless palette of dark vertical cladding, warm timber accents, and long run roofing creates a striking yet understated architectural composition. The sculptural half-height chimney anchors the outdoor living area, complementing the pool, pergola, and multiple terraces that encourage year-round entertaining.
Thoughtfully planned for modern family living, Pods on Pilot combines contemporary architecture with flexible spaces, generous natural light, and a seamless relationship between home, landscape, and lifestyle. A home shaped by its brief, and by its setting.
Client’s Initial Design Brief:
Our client came to us wanting a single-level home with a separate studio in the roof space, built around a three-pod design inspired by our Riverside Luxury Lifestyle residence. The layout would be split into three zones: a garage and master bedroom pod, a bedroom pod, and a living pod to the west.
They were drawn to simple forms and contrasting light and dark colours. They also wanted a tilt-panel feature and a half-height chimney, similar to our Life on Thornton residence. For the cladding, they wanted the look of timber without the upkeep, so low-maintenance options were key.
The home needed to be around 260–280m², with four bedrooms (and possibly a fifth), including a shared bathroom between the kids’ rooms. Bringing greenery inside was a must, along with large picture windows framing the views.
The site added its own challenge: a drop-off to a gully with building restriction lines, which the layout had to work carefully around. Outside, our client wanted multiple outdoor living spaces, including pergola-covered areas, plus a substantial shed with a separate unit on site.
Floor Plan:
Renders vs Reality:
