Along the coastline of Auckland, at the base of a mountain slope, this home is a love letter to nature. Kawakawa House interweaves with the natural beauty of its surroundings. Designed by Herbst Architects, this dwelling serves as an ode to the Tasman Sea below and the pōhutukawa trees that surround it. Kawakawa House emerges as an homage to its natural heritage, and the architect’s response to the environment is both sensitive and masterful. The home’s inspiration is a landscape characterised by raw splendour. “It’s all about the trees,” says Lance Herbst, principal at Herbst Architects. The site’s dense forest of pōhutukawa, revered as national treasures, sets the tone for the design.