Pocket Houses at Avenue Rd

FAQ's
Not design/build, DAA drawing sets available on request
Size - approx 69m2 - bottom floor 36m2, top floor 33m2
Cost to build roughly $3850/m2 + GST, depending on your builder
Other colour options are available for the tile cladding
Email info@daa.co.nz

The Pocket Houses address a fundamental challenge in our architectural landscape: how to create quality design that's accessible to more Kiwis. Born from a desire to balance considered architectural design with reasonable cost, these compact two-bedroom homes represent a fresh approach to democratising architectural design.

At just 70m² each, the homes occupy the footprint of a double garage approximately 36m2, yet never feel cramped. They deliver liveable, thoughtful spaces for first-home buyers, downsizers, or anyone seeking an appropriately sized home for their life stage.

The ground floor centres around an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space with large sliders opening on two sides, blurring boundaries between inside and out. We incorporated a built-in daybed (doubling as guest accommodation) and cleverly tucked the laundry into a cupboard. Upstairs, the landing doubles as a home office, while two bedrooms with built-in wardrobes share a compact bathroom.

The most striking feature of the houses is their vibrant orange roofing tile cladding — a joyful exterior choice that's also supremely practical, promising decades of minimal maintenance. This playfulness continues inside with warm plywood wrapping the downstairs interior, polished concrete floors, and doors painted in cheerful, individual colours to add life.

Positioned diagonally across the site in a checkerboard pattern, the two homes maintain privacy while making efficient use of their individual 146m² sections. Each dwelling enjoys its own yard, private courtyard, garden shed and carpark.

These prototypes demonstrate that architects can contribute meaningfully to solving New Zealand's housing challenges. By embracing compact living without compromising on design integrity, we aim to prove that architectural thinking isn't solely the domain of high-end projects. Small can indeed be beautiful, functional, and accessible.
Built by Senior Construction.

Awards:
Winner Multi-Unit Home Of The Year 2025
NZIA Auckland Architecture Awards – Multi-Unit – Winner 2025
Resene Colour Award 2025

https://www.pockethouse.nz




Life Cycle Assessment Case Study: Pocket House by DAA

A short film on carbon, materials and how design choices matter.

DAA were lucky to be invited by Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects (NZIA) to participate in an exciting project in recognition of the International Day of Climate Action (24 October). Our Pocket Houses were analysed in a post-build Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the project was filmed as a case study.

Our Pocket Houses are an imaginative response to the challenges of creating affordable suburban housing. But how do they (or could they) perform from an environmental standpoint?

Francisco Carbajal (Capana Group) joined Tim Dorrington and Sam Atcheson for a post-build Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Embodied carbon is central to architecture – it’s in the materials we choose and the way we build. The next major challenge is not just how we design but what we build from. This isn’t a constraint – it’s a design opportunity. Architects now have the chance to design not only for cost and aesthetics but also for carbon.

It’s about legacy. Architects shape the future, and that means understanding the impact of our buildings on future generations. Understanding what our buildings are made from is not just another set of rules – it’s a responsibility. And it’s one we should welcome.

Watch the short film here, offering valuable insights into the tools and knowledge that can help architects take action towards decarbonising buildings in the design process.