Kelburn House II

NZIA Wellington Architecture Award 2008

“This delightful house on a tight urban site demonstrates clarity and simplicity in planning and formal resolution as well as very good relationship to outdoor spaces……It is distinguished by elegance of composition and a high level of craft, evident in expression of timber structure and ply detailing.” NZIA Awards Jury, 2008.

The clients’ plans to adapt an existing villa on a small and narrow site, changed to a new house when neighbours declined to sign their Resource Consent application.  The all-new house required the same accommodation: a bedroom and office on ground level along with the living spaces; a further bedroom for visiting family; a library; off-street parking; and a north facing entry courtyard.

The design packed this within District Plan constraints by means of a centrally placed upper storey straddling the forms below, which were arranged to provide optimal alignment to north and west. 

From the street this home reads as a contemporary version of a suburban villa, with the centrally placed windows to the bedroom and a rhythm of zinc sprayed steel verandah posts.

Internally, to accommodate the upper floor within District Plan limitations there is a compressed ceiling height beneath, reinforced with the use of exposed timber LVL floor joists.  Instead of ‘open plan’ are created two distinct living areas; the kitchen / dining area for everyday, or the main space for larger gatherings.  A natural palette of contrasting materials to the interior includes concrete blocks, polished concrete floor, expressed joists, and timber / plywood joinery, all used to distinguish the special characters of the spaces within the house.