The Brownhouse

Residential

Project Type: Residential

Architect: Lisa Webb, LWA Studio

Photographer: LWA Studio

Lighting Design: Inlite

Construction: Henry Brown & Co. Ltd

The Brownhouse is more than an architectural statement, it’s a story of resilience. Following the devastating 2020 Ōhau wildfires, which claimed their original home, the clients embarked on a deeply personal rebuild. Collaborating with architect Lisa Webb of LWA Studio, they set out to craft a new beginning, rooted in strength, simplicity, and a deep connection to the natural surroundings.

Lighting played a pivotal role in this vision, with a focus on creating warmth, highlighting materiality, and thoughtfully balancing decorative moments with purposeful architectural illumination.

Working within the realities of a tight post-rebuild budget, the lighting design had to be strategic, ensuring every fitting contributed visually, functionally, and emotionally. Decorative luminaires were carefully selected to enhance key moments within the home, while efficient, understated architectural lighting provided practical illumination without disrupting the home’s raw material palette and clean lines.

A collaborative approach between lighting designer Madison Nixon and the Inlite team led to a mix of hero decorative lighting and clever, unobtrusive architectural fittings. Decorative pieces from Marz Designs and Wästberg were paired with Inlite’s core architectural range to deliver a layered, considered lighting scheme.

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Entry Nook Feature

A hero piece combining the Bright Beads Alice Pendant by Marz Designs and the organic Voronoi bulb by Tala sets the tone in the entry. The timber beads mirror the home’s gabled ceiling lines, while the sculptural form of the pendant highlights a curated New Zealand stone feature, doubling as artwork and light source.

Nightflight Exhibition Lighting

Inlite’s Charm Track Spot system was used to highlight the Nightflight art exhibition within the home, providing flexibility and minimal disruption to exposed ceilings. Its ability to direct light precisely allowed both general illumination and focused artwork lighting from a single power source.

Master Bedroom Accent Lighting

In the master suite, a combination of Terra 00 Pendants by Marz Designs and w201 Extra Small Pendants by Wästberg deliver a minimalist yet impactful lighting statement. Their compact forms create intimate pools of light while allowing natural timber walls and curated art to remain the focal point.

General and Exterior Lighting

Subtle task lighting, provided by Inlite's Deep Starr Adjustable with warm 2700K Hero Eco lamps, was integrated throughout interior spaces and exterior soffits. This solution delivered functional, unobtrusive lighting while retaining a connection to the natural environment through soft, inviting illumination.

The Brownhouse is a testament to thoughtful, restrained design. The carefully balanced lighting scheme brings warmth, clarity, and comfort to a home born from adversity. It demonstrates how creative, collaborative lighting strategies can elevate a project, delivering both emotive impact and essential functionality, even within challenging budgets.