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Two striking homes from the Mahurangi region feature in a major new coffee-table book celebrating some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most inspiring residential architecture.
Cape to Bluff Volume 2, by architectural photographer Simon Devitt and former architect-turned-writer Andrea Stevens, will be released on June 15 and showcases 30 homes from across the country, including projects in Matakana and Mangawhai.
Among the featured homes is Piringa House in Matakana, designed by Studio 2 Architects, built by Steve Haycock Construction and structurally engineered by Hutchinson Consulting Engineers. Also included is Dune House on the Mangawhai estuary, designed by Oto Group, built by Smith Construction and engineered by Hutchinson Consulting.
The publication is the second collaboration between Devitt and Stevens, following the success of the original Cape to Bluff four years ago. Together, the pair have worked on architectural publications since 2007, combining Stevens’ background in architecture and writing with Devitt’s internationally recognised photography.
The new volume documents homes that respond closely to their landscapes and environments. The projects range from compact 40 square metre first homes to sprawling luxury residences exceeding 1000 square metres.
Stevens says the book focuses on the realities behind residential architecture rather than glamour or status.
“To get a house built these days is an act of faith and bravery, and requires deep trust in the people who help you get there,” she says.
“In this book, I explore how bespoke buildings come to be. It’s not about hype. It’s one step at a time, doing the hard work and navigating a project through each obstacle to realise a place for shelter, and for family and friends.”
She says the homes featured in the book demonstrate how thoughtful architecture can enhance and respect the natural environment.
“Architecture is too often seen as an object or commodity – its appearance, location or value,” Stevens says.
“Behind the scenes, architecture is a process of problem-solving, intuition, late nights, creative leaps and the reconciliation of conflicting criteria.”
The featured homes span coastal, rural, suburban and urban settings, each designed to feel connected to its surroundings.
Devitt, one of New Zealand’s best-known architectural photographers, says the project became a more personal exploration of the country and its landscapes.
“Cape to Bluff began as a way of paying attention,” he says. “It’s slower, more instinctive and more personal. It’s about responding to the land rather than directing it.”
He hopes readers will slow down and spend more time with the images and stories within the book.
“We move quickly now. We consume images quickly. This work asks for something different. It asks you to stay a little longer, to notice what sits just beneath the surface.”
Devitt was recently recognised in the 2025 Architecture MasterPrize photography awards, including for his work on Piha Bunker, another home featured in the book.
Cape to Bluff Volume 2 will retail for $99 and can be pre-ordered here:
https://aotearoabooks.co.nz/cape-to-bluff-volume-2/
