By John Mills Architects
The judges remarked, “clearly, this is a Wellington home. The house is located on a compact and steep site pinned against Mount Victoria but with glorious views out to Wellington harbour and the Tararuas beyond. Despite the confines of the site the house is spatially generous; the design caters for family dynamics by using levels to provide separation, while retaining a sense of connectedness. Approaching a challenging site as an opportunity, the architect has provided a house that embodies warmth, intimacy and homeliness, and that at the same enjoys a wonderful sense of spaciousness and openness.”
This true Wellington home has spectacular views, but facing east, with a slope to challenge any engineer and resource consent limitations! Situated against the eastern flank of Mt Victoria, with magnificent views over Evans bay, Shelly Bay and the Tararuas, the aim was to subtly unfold space as one climbs up and deliver the big outlook and outdoor flow to the living rooms.
The owners wanted a complex series of private spaces, contrasting with clean yet expressive form and finishes. A strong desire to have a comfortable home has been realised, with the ambient temperature stable at 18-20 degrees thanks to over-specified insulation and attention to passive solar principles. Given the cacophony of building styles in the surrounding neighbourhood we attempted to merge with the hillside and let the vertical geometry provide the architectural melody. The result is a dynamic home that embraces family living, while creating unique Wellington spaces with playful and practical materials, with enduring environmental comfort.
JMA has been operating in Wellington, New Zealand since 1990. It has a distinctive aesthetic that seeks to combine our passion for materials and colour with a desire to create uniquely tailored architecture for the individual or specific organisation. The studio has completed projects around New Zealand, including Auckland and Nelson.
The team endeavours to create architecture that speaks of its sites and surroundings, with grace, poetry and personality – unencumbered by blind conformity and dictates of transient fashion. JMA works together with clients and builders to craft beautiful forms and engaging spaces that make the heart leap and the soul sing.
Practicality and comfort are so fundamental to quality building, form and space. The heart should leap, the eyes should widen and the soul should sing. This is the aim of architecture.