Anchored in the environment

Expertly carved into the steep Island Bay hillside, this light-filled environmentally conscious design from Arête Architects is positioned for sun and sweeping views across Wellington and Cook Straight.

Rob Seymour of Seymour Construction is both the builder and owner of this high-performance home. Rob who grew up locally says, “The opportunity to secure a piece of land in Island Bay, not far from where we lived at the time, was too good to miss.”

Rob and his partner Maria met architect Sam Brown from Arête Architects through mutual friends. “We came to him with a few ideas, but we also wanted to give him the freedom to create something unique.”

Sam says “Rob and Maria were keen to use a young, creative and flexible architect. We signed the contract the day my daughter was born so it was all go, from the start.”

The couple were impressed by Sam’s diligence and ability to make the most of the tricky hillside site. “He knew the site would present challenges, but he had planned for them from the very beginning,” says Rob. Sam says, “They had both worked incredibly hard to be able to build their forever home and wanted it to be a true testament to this hard work. As Rob was building it too, he wanted a chance to showcase his skill set, so no concept was too outlandish.”

This steep site came with some even steeper challenges including the complexity of the consent process. Rob says, “With a 35 to 40-degree slope, everything had to be carefully planned from the outset.” A considerable, 1,600m³ of rock was excavated to carve out a platform for the 276 square metre house and garage from the 506 square metre section.

“Working with Mark from Collab Engineering was such a positive part of our build,” says Rob. “He made the structural side of the build feel less intimidating and much more collaborative.

Sam says “The design is unique and inviting, clean and mature. With the exterior being prominent but also sympathetic of the surrounding environment.”

The main house is comprised of three bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a large office and three decks. Above the garage is a one-bedroom self-contained studio with an ensuite and deck which has been a very popular holiday let.

“In the main house, the bedrooms have been designed to make you feel as though you are floating above Island Bay below,” says Sam. “The corner floor to ceiling glazing, hung out on the edge of the home is not a place for those with vertigo, but is one of my favourite places in the home. It expresses a beautiful juxtaposition between comfort an unease.”

The main ensuite features sage green mosaics from Artedomus. The bath boasts an uninterrupted view over Island Bay and the Cook Strait. “Soaking there feels like a retreat, with the landscape stretching out in front of you through the full-height glazing,” says Maria.

The blue bathroom was designed with guests in mind. Maria says “We used Queensbury tiles with Inkiostro Bianco wallpaper sourced from Italy. It’s bold, and we absolutely love the statement it makes.”

“For the downstairs guest bathroom, we kept the tiles simple, a classic white square but gave it a playful twist with custom pink grout. It’s unexpected and fun, and always gets a reaction,” says Maria.

In the studio space above the garage, the couple wanted a handcrafted look. “Rob built a handmade tōtara vanity with a custom concrete top. We added an Eden Stone basin with a curved profile, a beautiful detail that softens the overall look and makes the vanity a real feature,” says Maria.

Wainui Joinery crafted some of the key elements that make this house feel special. They completed the painted-finish kitchen in Resene Black Forest, beautifully paired with aged walnut panelling. They also designed and built the oak vanity in the ensuite and the laundry cabinetry in Melteca Bayleaf, each piece tailored perfectly to the spaces.

Rob sourced and used a lot of recovered swamp totara through the build from the treads of the main stair to the handrails, kitchen light, vanities and external timber screens.

LMA recycled timber cladding in Ironbark Australian eucalypt hardwood was specified to bring character and sustainability to the exterior. Inside, the lounge ceiling and soffits add warmth and texture paired with VidaSpace hardwood flooring.

“Building on such a steep, technically demanding site was never going to be easy, but pushing the limits of structural engineering and architectural design in a residential setting was incredibly satisfying. Achieving a high-performance standard added another layer of complexity, one that made the finished result feel even more special” says Rob.

“One of the key things about this project was the young, keen and capable team that was on it. The Hill House is certainly a flagship project for me and Arête and one I and the entire team involved can be incredibly proud of,” says Sam.

Rob says, “I particularly love the use of recycled timber, which brings both sustainability and character to the home. Island Bay is a stunning place to work, but it’s an even better place to live. At the end of the day, what stands out most is creating a home that isn’t just a feat of design and engineering, but a beautiful, comfortable place for my wife and our cats to enjoy every day.”

Contact details:

Arete Architects
04 213 7600
hello@aretearchitects.co.nz
www.aretearchitects.co.nz