Situated above Whanganui, with views towards the mouth of the awa, the Cracroft house is a family home which makes the most of the view while also retaining privacy for the people who live there. Two pavilion forms – one public and one private – bookend the central hub which can be opened or closed to guard against the westerly wind.

The Cracroft house was the winner of a Te Kahui Whaihanga NZIA 2024 Western Architecture Housing Award.

The judges describe it as “a well-planned functional home that provides flexibility and joy for the owners, their family and friends… The well-crafted transition in the public form between the entry, living and flexible ‘garage’ achieves neo-plastic spatial characteristics that meet the demands of family life. The well-detailed lighthouse window draws northern light inside, cleverly celebrates the clients’ faith and offers a point of difference in the suburban development.”