{"id":19891,"date":"2025-09-13T11:15:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T11:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/19891\/"},"modified":"2025-09-13T11:15:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T11:15:09","slug":"nzs-best-homes-with-phil-spencer-whats-in-episode-one-and-how-much-are-they-worth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/19891\/","title":{"rendered":"NZ\u2019s Best Homes with Phil Spencer: What\u2019s in episode one and how much are they worth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The return<\/a> of Phil Spencer, half of British property television\u2019s most famous and enduring double act, to marvel at rich people\u2019s architectural wonders that float above our beaches, lakes and nicer suburbs couldn\u2019t be better timed.<\/p>\n

\n The second series of New Zealand\u2019s Best Homes with Phil
\n Spencer arrives just as the government gives foreign one-percenters permission to buy $5 million-plus homes. Well, here\u2019s a very glossy catalogue, complete with a giddy Spencer\u2019s marvelling \u2013 \u201celegant\u201d seems to be his go-to word this season \u2013 at the homes as they are presented to him by their architects while the unnamed owners are away. Or possibly out in their helicopters for the day having just dropped the cleaning staff home.\n <\/p>\n

Not that any are actually for sale \u2013 here, the phrase \u201cforever home\u201d could spark its own drinking game \u2013 but it\u2019s certainly good marketing for the high-end architects, some of whom featured in the first season.<\/p>\n

Case in point, the first episode visits the Bay of Islands development at \u014cmarino (translation of te reo: \u201cOverseas Investment Act exempt\u201d), which is still advertising itself as \u201cthe only land available to foreign buyers\u201d. Stretching across hundreds of hectares of a former sheep and beef farm, \u014cmarino is a reforested and now gated community, though your nearest neighbours are over the hill.<\/p>\n

Maintaining his foreign summer wardrobe of sandals, shorts and various blue shirts, Spencer leaves the \u201cFold House\u201d at \u014cmarino, designed for Craig Heatley by Bossley Architecture, until last in the opening episode. But he\u2019s back later in the series for another, earlier Heatley-Bay-of-Islands-Bossley house on Moturoa Island, right out the front window of the first place and a short chopper ride away.<\/p>\n

First up, it\u2019s down to the Coromandel for the \u201cPanorama House\u201d at Whitianga, possibly not the first place in the series that will have some thinking it\u2019s a fine tribute to the mid-century Thunderbirds-ian school of design minus hydraulic palm trees. Future episodes inevitably have Spencer heading to the Southern Lakes. Mostly, though, it\u2019s rich Aucklanders\u2019 mega-baches. Oh, and quaint Point Wells, where people with too much taste for a place at nearby Omaha go (I am reliably informed). It\u2019s all certainly a nice showcase for the architects, even if none have ever asked a client: \u201cDo you really need this much house?\u201d <\/p>\n

What\u2019s in episode one and how much are they worth? <\/p>\n

\"PanoramaPanorama House: The challenge of the site\u2019s steep terrain called for sensitivity during the design and construction process. Photo \/ Sam Hartnett<\/p>\n

Panorama House\u202f <\/p>\n

Ferry Landing, Whitianga<\/p>\n

Designed by Edwards White Architects, completed in 2022. <\/p>\n

Eight-bedroom clifftop and treetop holiday home where grandparents can avoid rest of the family in rooms next to the bunker cum wine cellar. Comes with a classic MG MGA sports car to pick up guests from the Whitianga ferry a few minutes\u2019 drive away. <\/p>\n

What Spencer says: \u201cWhat a spot!\u201d \u202f <\/p>\n

What the architects say: \u201cThis multi-generational holiday home is a considered response to the needs of its inhabitants and the spectacular site overlooking Maramaratotara and Mercury Bays. The challenge of the site\u2019s steep terrain, established p\u014dhutukawa and native vegetation, called for sensitivity during the design and construction process. The result is a floating cedar box atop a stone base embedded into the cliff face. It provides varying levels of enclosure, exposure to the natural elements and \u2013 importantly \u2013 strong connection to its beachside location.\u201d <\/p>\n

QV estimated value: $5.17 million <\/p>\n

See more here<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"PauanuiPauanui Beach House: A rich palette of cast concrete and grey-oiled cedar defines the exterior. Photo \/ Simon Devitt<\/p>\n

Pauanui Beach House\u202f <\/p>\n

Pauanui <\/p>\n

Designed by Julian Guthrie, completed in 2024 <\/p>\n

Big concrete house right on the water in the holiday town. A rebuild of a slightly bigger 1970s home.<\/p>\n

What Spencer says: \u201cIt\u2019s huge!\u201d <\/p>\n

What the architects say: \u201cThe brief required us to reimagine the existing structure, to create a generous multi-generational holiday home. The original two-level concrete structure was retained, forming the bones for the new design, which provides generous open plan living spaces capturing the ocean views. <\/p>\n

\u201cA rich palette of cast concrete and grey-oiled cedar defines the exterior, with materials flowing from inside to out to blur the boundaries between spaces. Fine-framed full height sliding glazed doors enhance the sense of continuity, with a dramatic cantilevered timber roof drawing the eye towards the horizon. On the west fa\u00e7ade facing away from the coast, a vertical timber slatted screen filters the light and provides privacy from adjacent homes. The interior features sand toned stone, subtle mosaic and plaster textures, and greyed oak flooring and cabinetry to give a warm, minimalist feel that compliments [sic] a modern art collection.\u201d <\/p>\n

QV estimated value: $5.69 million <\/p>\n

See more here<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"BossleyBossley Architects Fold House: “built for a ton of people to have a ton of fun.\u201d Photo \/ Simon Devitt<\/p>\n

Fold House <\/p>\n

Bay of Islands <\/p>\n

Designed by Bossley Architects, completed in 2013. <\/p>\n

Award-winning, sprawling, multiple-building house built on 350ha for rich-lister Craig Heatley as part of his exclusive Omarino development at Parekura Bay, in the Bay of Islands. <\/p>\n

What Spencer says: \u201cThis place is built for a ton of people to have a ton of fun.\u201d <\/p>\n

What the architects say: \u201cThis generous seaside house is one of a series of our exploration of encampments and kiwi versions of walled gardens. The large footprint is divided into three separate buildings, creating an \u201copen courtyard\u201d which draws the space of the beach up the valley and into the overall composition of buildings. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe iconic elements of this project are the beautiful roofs; folded planes composed of triangular facets which float casually over the rooms below. The ceilings are light coloured poplar plywood, creating soft shifts of light and space hovering over the rooms below. The modulation of the roofs reflects natural light with exciting effect and externally refers to the rolling hills of the landscape around the valley. As always, the focus of the design was on providing spaces that are comfortable even when they are large. The Auckland Award NZIA judges recognised this when they wrote that \u2018… large though the component parts are, this project retains a very human scale\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n

QV estimate value: $11.1 million <\/p>\n

See more here<\/a> <\/p>\n

New Zealand\u2019s Best Homes with Phil Spencer, TVNZ 1, Sundays, 7.30pm.<\/p>\n

Save<\/a>Share this article<\/p>\n

Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.<\/p>\n

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