Wellington, New Zealand

An ambitious vision for a restricted but spectacular site, within a tightly established Pōneke neighbourhood, created an intricate & highly resolved family home. One that delicately worked with its opportunities and constraints with a sense of permanence, longevity, generosity and restraint. 

The site, previously a backyard for the neighbour below, included beautiful established trees. Most notably, the Pōhutukawa, stunning heritage apple and structural tī kōuka - these trees were protected & celebrated in the new home’s design giving a strong sense of permanence and privacy.

Responding to the existing site levels, the home gently climbs up over 5 levels, transitioning through areas of expansion and compression, including generous entrance foyer, open plan kitchen dining, connected lounge, three bedrooms, three bathrooms and laundry. Rich in materiality, the home grounds itself with permanence. Lime-wash bagged brick consolidates the ground levels, while aluminum cladding wraps the first floor with stoic resilience -  this no maintenance exterior protects against the intermit abrasive weather conditions. While the interior, also speaks to warmth, natural comfort, permanence & health. 

The home enjoys expansive views & framed moments while comfortably seated on the brow of Roseneath’s peninsula. To the west it looks over Oriental Bay, Wellington CBD, the Port and hills beyond, while framed views towards Shelly Bay & the Miramar Peninsular are captured to the south and Petone foreshore to the north east. 

This project exemplifies how a creative design solution can utilise a previously inaccessible site, positively adding to the tight and rambling built fabric that speaks to Wellington's unique residential identity.

Area: 171m²  |  Type: Residential, New Build
Year: 2024  | Construction: J B Building  |  Landscape: Xanthe White

NZIA – Wellington Architecture Awards 2025
Winner – Housing

Photography: Simon Devitt