Modern Classic - Medium Density

Modern Classic is growing in 2026, evolving from elegant, warm, and whimsical forms. The design extends its timeless elegance through functional simplicity and purposeful layouts, balancing classic European symmetry with more approachable detailing. It features softer curves and expands indoor-outdoor flow to create more harmonious spaces that foster both shared connections and personal solace for multigenerational living.

Modern Classic is a reimagining of classic European elegance, balancing timeless architectural symmetry with more approachable detailing. It softens grandeur with warmth, outdoor connection, and quiet opulence, all crafted for today’s functional, flexible, and multigenerational lifestyle. 

Prioritising tranquility and ease, Modern Classic weaves minimalist outlines and seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Subtly curved archways and textured materials bring soft, practical elegance to classical forms. Designs seamlessly connect shared, private and outdoor spaces to support both harmonious multigenerational living. Smooth connections from indoors to outdoor spaces, such as terraces or a pool area, combined with integrated biophilic elements enhance emotional wellbeing. Accessible and intentional layouts prioritise movement, ease, and enjoyment across all life stages.

A serene palette of muted creams, botanic greens, and grounding earth tones establishes a warm, resort-like elegance with enduring appeal. Tactile surfaces create visual depth, while traditional forms such as arches and trims are re-envisioned with calm, contemporary colours. The result is seamless living spaces that foster both shared connections and privacy, allowing different generations to live together comfortably.

About the Trend

Practical Guidelines

Softened classical forms: Introduce soft arches to ease architectural rigidity and provide graceful transitions, while smooth ceiling curves bring harmonious elegance into the room.
Fluid layouts: Create seamless indoor-outdoor access through large openings and sliding glass doors, encouraging natural light and easy breeze.
Accessible design elements: Design for accessibility by incorporating wider corridors, step-free access and generous circulation for ease and movement across generations.
Earthy materiality: Use calming neutrals and green hues as grounding tones, paired with organic materials such as wooden panels and soft textiles for a warmer, classical feel.
Textured finishes: Opt for refined, tactile surfaces such as soft ribbed detailing, fluted panel or gentle undulating textures for quiet depth.

Recommended products

Axon™ Brushed Concrete

Axon™ Panel Brushed Concrete: The texture of the panels transforms with light and proximity, creating a smooth, contemporary appearance from a distance, but unexpectedly tactile up close.

Axon™ Panel Smooth with a textured paint finish

Axon™ Panel Smooth, with a paint finish: A panel with a shiplap vertical joint. It can be finished with a site applied roll on textured acrylic paint for that rendered look, or you can paint it smooth.

Stria™ Cladding 325mm horizontal

Stria™ Cladding: For added interest include a horizontal groove feature. Stria™ Cladding 325mm or 405mm installed horizontally creates a modern masonry look.

Axon™ Panel rendered finish

Axon™ Panel Smooth, with a rendered finish: A panel with a shiplap vertical joint. It can be finished with a full mesh textured coat system for a lightweight plaster finish.

ExoTec™ Facade Panel

ExoTec™ Facade Panel:  Provides a durable, expressed joint panel appearance, it will give an effortless jointed panel look with an ultra-modern feel.

Recommended paint colours

Exterior

Dulux
Mt Aspiring Quarter
Dulux
Mason Bay Quarter
Dulux
Ōpononi
Dulux
Darfield
Dulux
Mt Stevens
Dulux
Te Kuiti
Standard greentag
Standard healthrate

Global GreenTag™ GreenRate™ Level A and Product Health Declaration™ PHD Platinum Health mean our products have passed the world's toughest standards for health, eco performance and safety.

Feature case study

Coastal Multi-unit Complex

Helping to address Auckland’s need for affordable homes, this multi-unit development balances durability with contemporary coastal aesthetics.

READ MORE
Closed and Opened Design Books

The Design Book

BUILD YOUR MODERN LIFE

The Hardie™ Cladding Collection has a wide variety of products to select from, creating design versatility, in which It’s Possible™ to Make Modern™ like never before. It’s a movement that’s reshaping perceptions and changing the way New Zealand builds. Whether you are planning a renovation, new build, or extension, this forecast will be an invaluable tool on your journey. Welcome to the James Hardie Design Handbook. It's time to Build Your Modern Life.

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The James Hardie Product Guide

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James Hardie's Modern Design Forecast

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1237 Howard Street, Parkvale, Hastings