PHOTO: The 2025 Home of the Year overall winner, Bunker House by Chris Tate
New Zealand’s property scene has a new architectural marvel—Bunker House by Chris Tate, crowned 2025 Home of the Year. This bold, sculptural masterpiece at Piha Beach is not just a home; it’s a statement. Fourteen years in the making, it seamlessly blends daring engineering with dramatic coastal beauty, defying conventions in materiality and form.
🌊 An Unlikely Location for a Landmark Home
Nestled beside a bustling surf lifesaving club and a public parking lot, Bunker House defies expectations. While one can grab a real fruit ice cream next door—mixed berry, passionfruit, or banana—this modernist structure rises unapologetically against Piha’s wild landscape. Its stark, angular design echoes the contrasts of the coastline—a place where lush greenery meets volcanic sand, and powerful waves carve stories into the shore.
🏗 A Feat of Design and Engineering
Chris Tate’s vision remained steadfast despite the long, arduous 14-year design and construction process. The house, sculptural in its presence, integrates seamlessly with its surroundings while making an undeniable statement. It is luxurious yet accessible, private yet public, a beacon of contemporary design in an area steeped in natural drama.
📸 From Local Controversy to Architectural Acclaim
Initially met with skepticism and even criticism from Piha locals, the house is now a social media sensation. Once a project viewed with suspicion, it is now a widely photographed and celebrated structure, proving that daring architectural ambition can redefine even the most unexpected locations.
🔮 Piha’s Mysterious Allure
Piha Beach has long been a place of myth and mystery. Local legends tell of a Māori princess who would sit atop Lion Rock, mesmerized by the ever-changing patterns of the waves. More recently, the beach’s reputation has been shaped by both its rugged surf culture and the eerie, unexplained disappearances of some visitors. This paradox of raw beauty and untamed danger makes it the perfect backdrop for a home that challenges traditional notions of domestic architecture.
🏆 Why Bunker House Matters in New Zealand’s Property Scene
As New Zealand’s real estate market evolves, Bunker House stands as a beacon of possibility—a home that pushes boundaries while staying true to the landscape. It challenges builders, architects, and homeowners to think beyond cookie-cutter designs and embrace a bolder vision for the future of property development.
📍 Key Takeaways: ✅ 2025 Home of the Year winner Bunker House redefines coastal architecture. ✅ Built over 14 years, it blends sculpture, materiality, and engineering. ✅ Initially controversial, it is now celebrated and widely photographed. ✅ Piha’s wild surf, rich history, and mysterious past provide a stunning setting. ✅ A milestone for New Zealand property and architectural innovation.