Design Insights
Browse through our project publications in the news and media.
The tree must remain
Set among mature trees on a lush Christchurch site, this mid-century home was reimagined by Urbanfunction to embrace its natural surroundings. The design weaves around an existing oak tree, blending sustainable materials, repurposed timber, and thoughtful interior details to create a warm, retreat-like home for a growing family.
Light on the land
A compact, high-performance 80m² home designed for challenging terrain. This small-footprint house maximises views, privacy, and internal volume through smart design and sustainable materials—proving that less can be more.
Designing for Family, Privacy & Views: A Playful Hillside Home with Alpine Outlook
Discover how Urbanfunction designed a playful, multi-level hillside home in Canterbury for a growing family—balancing solar gain, privacy, and panoramic alpine views on a challenging site.
Building Smarter on Slopes: Compact, Sustainable Architecture in Christchurch
Our compact Soleares Ave hillside project was featured on Defign this week. Discussing the smaller home movement and hinting at how to deliver cost effective architectural buildings on the hill.
Maffeys - As is, where is
Architect Aaron Jones saw more than damage in this quake-hit Mt Pleasant home—he saw legacy. In our latest Insight, discover how he transformed his father’s final build into a modern, energy-efficient sanctuary.
Sumner, and the living is easy.
A smarter kind of beach house—this Sumner home by Urbanfunction blends laid-back coastal living with sleek, sustainable design.