Mid-Century Modern

Mid-century Modern first garnered popularity in the 1950s for its optimistic and experimental qualities and shift away from traditional, closed floor plan houses. This design is characterised by flat or raked roof lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, raised structures, and great indoor-outdoor connections that integrate the home with the surrounding landscape.

Mid-century Modern is known for its "form follows function" approach to design, the style prioritises practicality and purpose over unnecessary, ornate decoration. However, Mid-century Modern isn't wholly utilitarian. Instead, these homes juxtapose clean, geometric lines with organic shapes and bright accent colours, evoking a sense of spirited play and light-heartedness. This iconic Mid-century Modern style is now seeing a huge resurgence with the updating of this design to incorporate minimalist sensibilities and ultra-modern amenities.

The Mid-century style is best summarised as being lightweight with low-lying designs that embrace colour and nature. It reflects an optimistic and experimental approach to living that rebels against ornate traditions and aesthetics. It is the 'architecture of ideas', created by those who believe that a forward-looking style could be a vehicle for social change to create a better society.

About the Trend

Design Features

Feature roof line: The roofline defines the shape of the structure. Roofs are hidden behind parapet walls or are gently sloping in skillion, butterfly and gable styles. They often feature large overhangs.
Organic and geometric shapes: Straight lines and exposed angular structures and right angles are at the heart of the style.
Flexibility: Mid-century Modern homes are celebrated for their flexibility– features, which include open floor plans, indoor/outdoor integration and strategic window placement.
Large windows: Floor to ceiling windows fill rooms with light and connect indoors with outdoors.
Interiors: Skylights and lightwells are a feature of mid-century design, as well as multiple access points to the outdoors. Clever, functional zoning and efficient use of space ensures the design caters to the demands of the modern family.

Recommended products

Linea™ Weatherboard

Linea™  Weatherboard:The strong shadow lines of this weatherboard, painted dark add a modern twist. Using with Linea™ Aluminium Corner Soakers differentiates from a more traditional look which has trim covering the corners.

Axon™ Brushed Concrete

Axon™ Panel Brushed Concrete:  With the embedded swept texture reminiscent of softly brushed concrete, these panels are ideal for creating modern minimalist facades with tactility.

Oblique™ Weatherboard, staggered and vertically installed

Oblique™ Weatherboard: The wide grooves and design flexibility of board widths delivers drama and visual interest to barn facades.

Stria™ Cladding 325mm

Stria™ Cladding: The deep, 15mm-wide grooves create strong, sleek lines ideal for contemporary designs that require a bold but pared-back aesthetic.

Options in select areas:

Stria™ Cladding

Stria™ Cladding:  For stand out interior feature walls.

Hardie™  Groove Lining

Hardie™ Groove Lining: Interior feature walls

Why Now?

  • We are finding renewed comfort in familiar pursuits and products from decades past.
  • The global resurgence for mid-century aesthetics
  • Features of indoor-outdoor spaces and raised structures are optimal for our southern hemisphere climate
  • Mid-century Modern decor has strong correlations with our relaxed and outdoor-centric lifestyle

The resurgence and growing popularity of the mid-century modern house continues to gain momentum, for distinctive exteriors and functional interiors, climate-friendly features and use of natural materials.

Recommended paint colours

Exterior

Dulux
Mt Hutt
Dulux
Southern Alps
Dulux
Manorburn
Dulux
Remutaka Range
Dulux
Tokomaru Bay
Dulux
Bethells Beach

Interior

Dulux
Mt Aspiring
Dulux
Mt Hutt
Dulux
Manorburn
Dulux
Optio Bay
Dulux
Remutaka Range
Dulux
Pigeon Bush
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

Back to the Future, Oblique™ Weatherboard

With arresting good looks and a harmonious connection to the landscape, this Mid-Century Modern home featuring Oblique™ Weatherboard is optimised for playing, relaxing and socialising.

READ MORE
Design Handbook Cover 2025 resized

The Design Handbook

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.

Where

To buy our products

Get

The James Hardie Product Guide

See

James Hardie's Modern Design Forecast

Find your nearest Showhome

  • Select Option
  • 11 Rose Manor Drive, Springlands, Blenheim
  • 43 Belgrove Place, Parklands, Christchurch, Canterbury
  • 10 Homestead Drive, Rangiora
  • 4 Homestead Dr, Rangiora
  • 21 Homestead Drive, Bellgrove, Rangiora
  • 40B Johns Rd, Belfast, Christchurch
  • 50, Lochridge Drive, Kinloch, 3300, Waikato
  • 136 Highland Crescent, Te Awamutu
  • 145 Kaniere Road, Kaniere, Hokitika
  • 19 Clydesdale Drive, Holmes Hill, Oamaru
  • 52, Summersfield Boulevard, Appleby, 7081, Tasman
  • 74 Pelorus Avenue, Poraiti, Napier
  • 163 Brookside Road, Rolleston
  • 37 Meadowstone Street, Gleniti, Timaru
  • 21 Skibbereen Drive, Halswell, Christchurch
  • 80, Benashet Drive, Lincoln, 7672, Canterbury
  • 32 Nikau Drive, Redwoodtown, Blenheim
  • 19 Finstock Way, Springston
  • 16 Camberley Road, Richmond
  • 119 Carters Road, Amberley
  • 72 Hitchen Road, Pōkeno
  • 27 Finstock Way, Springston
  • 7 Oakbridge Boulevard, Marshland, Christchurch
  • 13 Oakbridge Boulevard, Marshland, Christchurch
  • 46 Arbuckle Road, Frimley, Hastings
  • 9 Montiicola Drive, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa
  • 1, Flounder Drive, Ōmokoroa
  • 108 Fairway Drive, Morrinsville
  • 274, Te Rapa Road, Beerescourt, Hamilton, 3200, Waikato
  • 37, Okaia Drive, Kinloch, 3377, Waikato
  • 7, Tūhua Close, Wharewaka, Taupō, 3378, Waikato
  • 2, Walsh Road, 2110, Auckland
  • Rotorua Grove, Aotea, Porirua, 5024, Wellington
  • 2, Buddle Road, Paerata, 2676, Auckland
  • 11, Highland Drive, Acacia Bay, Taupō, 3385, Waikato
  • 714, Te Kowhai Road, Te Kowhai, 3288, Waikato
  • Kahukaka Road, One Tree Point, 0118, Northland
  • Pampas Drive, 0992, Auckland
  • 29, Kimbrae Drive, Hamilton, 3210, Waikato
  • 50, Hitchens Road, Pokeno, 2402, Waikato
  • Jonah Lomu Drive, Paerata, 2676, Auckland
  • Flaxfield Lane, Beachlands, 2571, Auckland
  • 1, Manutewhau Road, Massey, 0614, Auckland
  • 10, Ripeka Lane, Whenuapai, 0618, Auckland
  • 12, Harriet Johnston Drive, Pokeno, 2472, Waikato
  • Podgora Avenue, Kumeu, 0891, Auckland
  • Kapia Road, Massey, 0614, Auckland
  • 17, Brown Street, Inglewood, 4330, Taranaki
  • 109, Wairau Drive, Tikipunga, Whangarei, 0112, Northland
  • 60, Stace Hopper Drive, Whangarei, 0118, Northland
  • 1, Kukuwai Avenue, Red Beach, 0932, Auckland
  • 25, Jonah Lomu Drive, Pukekohe, 2676, Auckland
  • 190 Matua Road, Huapai
  • 47 Main Street, Greytown
11 Rose Manor Drive, Springlands, Blenheim