THE CURVED HOUSE

Tom Bowden is yet another sibling who was never on time for dinner. He was more often than not transforming nīkau palm fronds into a make-shift sled and zooming down a slope on the southern end of the property. Tom is now an Auckland-based entrepreneur less prone to sliding down hills, but when it came to choosing his holiday spot, his heart led him home.

Tom’s curved three-bedroom off- grid house was designed by architect Belinda George and built from sustainable and reclaimed timber. The semi- circular house sits against the hillside, looking to the bush rather than the moody ocean, which is often in a tug- of-war with the rocks beneath it. It was a winner in the NZIA 2020 Awards (Housing Auckland category), in which the judges remarked, “The house’s natural rhythm allows for spaces that connect with each other and the environment.”

There’s something else that connects Tom to the land, and it’s stickier and slimier than his sleek and chic coastal hideaway.

“Tom’s passion is for New Zealand’s large, air-breathing land snails,” says Helen.

“Believe it or not, it is fascinating if you get him started. They’re vulnerable and need our urgent protection.”