Designed by Dorrington Atcheson Architects (DAA), Pocket House is a new development in Otahuhu, Auckland featuring two homes each on 145m² sites. The designers wanted to explore creating a new type of smaller dwelling suitable for a variety of residents including young families, professional couples, individuals and single parents, while shifting away from the style and design of other medium density projects in New Zealand. This extended to material choice, with Monier’s Terracotta Marseille Tile in the natural Earth finish chosen to create a unique facade that would ensure longevity.

The development features two stand-alone ‘Pocket Houses’, each with a two-storey design that maximises space within a 6.1m x 6.1m footprint — around the size of a double garage. The homes feature two bedrooms, a bathroom and a study space on the upper level, with kitchen and living on the ground level, with careful design making the most of every part of the modest 65 - 70m² floor area. 

“It’s a prototype that me and my wife are creating as a family, just trying to come up with another option for first home buyers or small house buyers that is cost comparable to what is currently out there getting done by developers,” explains Tim Dorrington, Architect, DAA. 

While many common medium density developments feature weatherboard cladding, Tim wanted to create a more unique look for the facade of the homes. “For the facade, I wanted something that was pretty easy to look after, that would stand the test of time, and that would also stand out,” says Tim. “I was looking in a brick book and there was a project that we found in Australia that had a weird textured wall that looked a bit like roofing tiles. That’s how we went down the rabbit hole of using roofing tiles for the cladding.”

When considering different tile options, it was Monier’s Terracotta Marseille Tile that stood out as being the right fit for the project. “With that specific tile, I liked the texture and what it could do in the sun with interesting shadow plays,” says Tim. “I also liked the boldness of the colour. We decided to stick with the basic terracotta colour with no glazing as it’s going to last over time — it's a colourcore tile, so that colour goes all the way through, it’s not something that needs to be maintained or resurfaced.” 

The tiles are backed by a 50 year performance and colour guarantee for added peace of mind —  ideal for the development which has been designed with long-lasting materials to ensure low maintenance. “Essentially there’s zero maintenance,” says Tim. “We've got aluminium windows, a Colorsteel roof, and terracotta tile cladding — so all you have to do is water blast the house, there’s nothing to paint, no maintenance, zero to do.”

The long-lasting terracotta tiles also provided a sustainable choice, made from natural clay that can be recycled or reused at end of life. Thermal performance was another benefit, with the inherent thermal performance of the terracotta helping contribute to greater energy efficiency and comfort in the homes. 

In addition to the Monier tiles for the facade, Monier bricks were chosen to add durability and character to the patios.

The cladding installation was fast and easy thanks to the straightforward fixing process for the tiles and no need for further finishing. “Install was amazing to watch, I’ve never seen something get clad that quickly from start to finish,” says Tim. 

Tim was also pleasantly surprised by how economical it was to use the tiles compared to other cladding options. “I had looked at a different type of cladding, but the cost for the tiles plus installation was comparable to just the material costs for the timber cladding I’d considered.” 

With the homes now complete, Tim is thrilled with how they’ve turned out. The Terracotta Tiles have created a unique look while providing trusted durability and low maintenance.

“I love the look and feel of the Monier tiles — they are quite interesting and create this shadow play in the sun, and the performance has been really impressive,” says Tim. “The facade is quite unique, and the tiles give it a bit of individuality. At the end of the day they worked out really well.”