17 Types of Houses in New Zealand: A Visual and Structural Guide to New Zealand Home Styles

New Zealand's homes reflect a rich blend of historical influences, local materials, and ever-evolving design trends. From classic Victorian Villas to modern sustainable homes, the variety of house styles across the country is as diverse as the people who live in them.

Understanding the characteristics of your home's style can be a valuable tool for homeowners looking to renovate or add value to their property. This guide outlines the most common home styles in New Zealand, detailing their visual features, structure, common renovation challenges, and ideas for value-adding improvements.

Types of Houses in New Zealand

Victorian Villa (Late 1800s – Early 1900s)

The Victorian Villa is a classic New Zealand home with distinctive features such as weatherboard cladding, steep gabled roofs, decorative verandas, sash windows, and ornate fretwork. Inside, these homes typically feature timber framing, with a compact kitchen often located at the rear and separate formal rooms with fireplaces.

Renovating a Victorian Villa can be a rewarding experience due to its high ceilings, character features, and solid bones, although it may come with some challenges such as outdated wiring, plumbing, and insulation. A great renovation idea would be to extend the house at the rear with an open-plan kitchen and living area, keeping the front façade intact to preserve the character of the home.

California Bungalow (1920s – 1930s)

With their low-pitched gable roofs, wide eaves, and many with large front porches, California Bungalows have a timeless charm. These timber-framed homes typically have separate rooms for living and dining, though many homeowners opt to open up these spaces in modern renovations.

While the solid timber frames are a pro, these homes often suffer from settling foundations, asbestos in ceilings or floors, and limited natural light. Renovating a California Bungalow could involve opening up the kitchen and living spaces to create a modern open-plan layout, perhaps with skylights to increase natural light and enhance the sense of space.

Art Deco (1930s – 1940s)

Out of all the types of houses in New Zealand Art Deco homes are some of the more memorable. They are known for their sleek stucco walls, geometric detailing, and distinctive flat roofs or parapets. The structure is typically concrete or brick, with compact kitchens and formal lounges often featuring built-in cabinetry or fireplaces.

Renovating an Art Deco home requires careful consideration to preserve the unique design features, such as curved corners and patterned tiles, while updating kitchens and bathrooms with modern amenities. The challenge of matching original materials can be expensive, but the reward is a stylish home with a rich architectural history.

State Houses (1930s – 1950s)

State Houses, built in the mid-20th century, are simple, solid homes with brick or weatherboard exteriors and basic rectangular layouts. The separate kitchen and dining areas, small rooms, and often outdated plumbing and insulation are typical of these homes. However, their reliability and ease of renovation make them a popular choice for modern upgrades.

A popular renovation idea for a State House is to knock through the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open-plan living area that feels larger and more connected.

1950s–60s Weatherboard Homes

These timber-framed homes are characterised by their weatherboard cladding and simple design. Kitchens are typically closed-off and galley-style, but many homeowners now opt to open them up to create a more modern layout.

Although the timber floors underneath the carpet are often in good condition, these homes can suffer from dated cladding, poor insulation, and old plumbing and wiring. A renovation idea for these homes could be to add a deck with sliding doors to improve indoor-outdoor flow and create a more contemporary feel.

Mid-Century Modern (1950s – 1970s)

Mid-Century Modern homes are all about clean lines, large windows, and indoor-outdoor flow. These homes typically have simple forms, flat or low-pitched roofs, and open-plan living areas. Many Mid-Century Modern homes also have compact but efficient bathrooms and exposed timber or concrete flooring.

Renovating these homes can be a stylish way to bring them into the 21st century by adding clerestory windows or a lightwell to brighten darker internal areas and create a more spacious feel.

Lockwood Homes (From 1950s)

Lockwood homes feature interlocking timber cladding and pitched roofs. The timber walls create a warm, natural look, but their fixed wall systems can limit renovation potential. The open-plan living areas are a distinctive feature of Lockwood homes, with built-in cabinetry in the kitchen and exposed wood throughout the living spaces.

A renovation idea for a Lockwood home could be to add large windows or French doors to bring in more light and create a stronger connection to the outdoor living areas.

1970s–80s Brick & Tile Suburban Homes

These homes often have brick veneer exteriors and concrete tile roofs, with a timber frame structure. Kitchens are typically U or L-shaped, and dining and living areas can either be combined or separate.

The main challenge with renovating these homes is that many have dated finishes, asbestos ceilings or walls, and cold concrete floors. A smart renovation idea for these homes would be to open up the kitchen, dining, and living areas to create a more modern open-plan layout and improve insulation or add underfloor heating to improve comfort.

Mediterranean/Spanish Influence (1980s – 1990s)

These homes are easily recognised by their stucco walls, arched windows and doors, and terracotta-style roofs. The open-plan living spaces, central kitchens, and tiled bathrooms are typical of Mediterranean-style homes. However, these homes can suffer from leaky home issues, plaster cracking, and costly recladding.

Renovating a Mediterranean home could involve recladding the exterior with modern materials, repainting the walls with a neutral colour palette, and upgrading the interior to include more modern finishes.

Plaster Homes / Monolithic Cladding (1990s – Early 2000s)

Monolithic cladding homes, also known as plaster homes, have flat or low-slope roofs and smooth plaster exteriors. These homes are often spacious with open-plan layouts, but they can suffer from leaky home issues due to the lack of cavity systems.

Renovating these homes requires a comprehensive weathertightness assessment and potentially costly recladding work. Upgrading the kitchen and bathroom while ensuring moisture issues are addressed will help protect the investment and bring the home up to modern standards.

Modern Architectural Homes

Modern homes feature a mix of materials such as timber, steel, and concrete, with large windows that allow for plenty of natural light. These homes are built with energy efficiency in mind, and the interiors often feature open-plan layouts and designer bathrooms.

A renovation idea for these homes could include adding smart home automation systems or energy-efficient upgrades like solar panels or heat pump systems to increase their sustainability and long-term value.

Tiny Homes

Tiny homes are lightweight, often transportable, and designed to make the most of limited space. These homes are typically compact, with space-saving features such as wet-room-style bathrooms and functional kitchens.

Renovating a tiny home involves overcoming the challenge of limited space but also presents the opportunity to create clever storage solutions such as under-bed drawers or ceiling-hung shelving.

Barn Style / Scandinavian-Inspired Homes

Barn-style and Scandinavian-inspired homes are characterised by their steep gables, vertical timber or steel cladding, and light-filled interiors with vaulted ceilings. The layout tends to be open-plan, with sleek kitchens and understated bathrooms.

These homes offer a great opportunity for renovations that add a mezzanine loft for extra living or storage space, enhancing the home's functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Sustainable / Passive Homes

Sustainable homes are designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring high-performance cladding, solar panels, and airtight structures. The interiors are often designed to maximise solar gain and airflow, with energy-efficient appliances and water-saving fixtures.

Renovating these homes typically involves retrofitting older systems with modern ventilation systems or additional solar panels to improve their efficiency.

Container Homes

Container homes are made from repurposed steel containers or cladded for insulation. These homes are modular, compact, and quick to renovate.

A renovation idea for a container home could include adding insulated cladding and a rooftop deck to maximise outdoor living space and improve insulation.

Kiwi Bach (Holiday Home)

Kiwi Bachs are simple, often DIY homes with timber or corrugated iron exteriors. These homes are typically modest, with basic kitchen and bathroom facilities, and many are off-grid or have minimal amenities.

Renovating a Kiwi Bach could involve adding a covered deck or an outdoor shower to enhance the holiday experience and add value to the property.

Farmhouses / Lifestyle Block Homes

Farmhouses and lifestyle block homes often feature weatherboard or brick exteriors and large kitchens with walk-in pantries. These homes are spacious, practical, and well-suited for families or those with a large property.

Renovating a farmhouse could involve adding double glazing or installing a wood-burning stove or heat pump for comfort in colder months, making the home more energy-efficient and improving its market value.