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The site was the garden of the owners original house. Like all properties in the locality, it has harbour views to the south, with both sun and the prevailing wind from the north. Strict height covenants applied, in addition to the normal Council planning restrictions. The site slopes a full storey toward the south.

The house is designed for comfort and low energy use.
Features include:

  • Solar hot water heating.
  • A suspended concrete upper floor, to provide thermal mass and passive solar storage.
  • In-slab, reticulated water central heating.
  • High levels of insulation to roof and walls.
  • Thermally broken window frames with varying glazing specifications for different orientations.
  • Careful design of orientation and glazing to maximise passive solar benefits and minimise heat loss.
  • LED lighting throughout.

The cost plan for the house allowed for these features from the concept stage, to ensure that they would not be compromised, and we were very pleased to deliver the finished house within the original budget.

The principal spaces are contained within an “L” plan, set on an angle to the boundaries to align comfortably with neighbouring houses and to create long views within the side to gardens on the north and south sides. This form has a monopitch roof following the slope of the site and catching sun from the north through clerestory windows. On the north side the “L” contains a single-sided, extensively glazed ‘gallery’ and entry. A tall ‘garden room’ of contrasting form separates the entrance area from a more private, north facing courtyard.

The lower level is ICF blockwork with a plastered finish, which is matched on the EIFS cladding to the upper level. Both provide high levels of insulation. The ‘garden room’, deck and ensuite are clad in vertical ‘STC900’ profiled metal, which was able to be curved at corners as desired. The same material clads the tilting garage door, which flows seamlessly into the adjoining wall cladding.

The interior detailing and finishes go beyond simple to ‘minimal’ – which requires great care in detailing and construction. There are no architraves to doors or windows, and a ‘negative’ skirting detail. The curved gallery ceiling seamlessly meets the curved walls. Floors are ground and polished concrete, with proprietary leather flooring to the kitchen-dining-living space.  The stair is a stained oak timber ‘waterfall’ design with a frameless glass balustrade.

A comprehensive landscaping plan will next be implemented, to complement the house and realise the potential of the outdoor spaces.

Builder: Northface Construction Ltd
Structural Engineer: SpencerHolmes
Landscape Architect: Moorhead & Newdick Landscape Architects

Photography credit: John Wright

Wright & Gray Architects Ltd
Wellington
North & South
North & South
North & South
North & South
North & South
North & South
North & South

About the
Professional

Wright & Gray Architects Ltd is a Wellington-based, 8-person practice working locally and throughout New Zealand.

Directors John Wright and Travis Gray have over 50 years of experience between them.

Our residential work includes high-value renovations, new houses and multi-unit housing. Commercial and institutional work includes offices, industrial, healthcare and education.

We believe that adaptive reuse of existing buildings is a key to sustainability, and we have vast experience in the end-to-end renovation and repurposing of both housing and commercial buildings.

The range of our projects is diverse, but to each and every one we bring the same strong ethic of service.

We are "Architects who listen".

No two Wright & Gray projects look the same. We work closely with our clients to design buildings that are a great fit with their aspirations, location and their means.

Our clients say that we are great to work with, and many come back to us again.

They tell us that the appreciate the quality of our design, good communication, the respect for their budget, and our experienced oversight of their building projects. The finished results often exceed their expectations and provide many years of enjoyment and delight.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.