Houzz Tour: A Contemporary Hillside Home With Dramatic Views
Stunning scenery provides the backdrop for a beautiful family house set into the slopes of a forested hill in New Zealand
Perched in the hills above Wellington and surrounded by native New Zealand bushland, the Korokoro House is a beautiful contemporary home with striking facades and stunning views from every angle. Designed by architect Liz Wallace of Tse:Wallace Architects, the project was completed early this year and was custom-built for a Sri Lankan couple who were keen to bring the style of their favourite architect, Geoffrey Bawa, to New Zealand.
Wallace achieved a Bawa-influenced design with a modern edge, creating a home with large, open-plan living spaces and multiple outdoor areas to suit the family’s lifestyle and their heritage, and also complementing the natural landscape surrounding it.
Wallace achieved a Bawa-influenced design with a modern edge, creating a home with large, open-plan living spaces and multiple outdoor areas to suit the family’s lifestyle and their heritage, and also complementing the natural landscape surrounding it.
Geoffrey Bawa was one of the most renowned architects in Sri Lanka and is today known for developing ‘tropical modernism’ as a principle architectural design. The couple were keen to have this style translate into their new home. ‘There was immediately a richness in their brief because of this cultural heritage,’ says Wallace. ‘It was a chance to get away from the “white everywhere” projects and incorporate more texture into the design.’
Wallace used several key features of Bawa’s style in this project, including the high ceilings and exposed beams which are integral to the house, as well as creating several outdoor courtyard areas.
Wallace used several key features of Bawa’s style in this project, including the high ceilings and exposed beams which are integral to the house, as well as creating several outdoor courtyard areas.
The site is located on a steep slope, which was one of the main challenges Wallace faced with the design. She decided to use an L-shape for the structure of house, built over several levels to make the most of the surrounding views and optimise the home’s exposure to sunlight. One private section of the house faces north towards the gorge, and this is where the bedrooms are located. The south-facing public wing looks out over Wellington Harbour and the Cook Strait, making the best use of the plot.
Wellington is notoriously windy, and as the property sits on a slope it can be hit hard by strong gusts. For a family that likes to spend time outdoors, it was important for the architect to provide them with options for less-exposed areas. ‘With four distinct outdoor living areas, there’s always somewhere you can go, depending on which way the wind is blowing,’ says Wallace.
At the lower level you are greeted with a staircase and a double-height built-in structure, which functions as an office hub at the lower level and a display cabinet higher up. The main living areas and master bedroom are upstairs, while the two children’s bedrooms, activity room and utility spaces are downstairs.
Wellington is notoriously windy, and as the property sits on a slope it can be hit hard by strong gusts. For a family that likes to spend time outdoors, it was important for the architect to provide them with options for less-exposed areas. ‘With four distinct outdoor living areas, there’s always somewhere you can go, depending on which way the wind is blowing,’ says Wallace.
At the lower level you are greeted with a staircase and a double-height built-in structure, which functions as an office hub at the lower level and a display cabinet higher up. The main living areas and master bedroom are upstairs, while the two children’s bedrooms, activity room and utility spaces are downstairs.
The expansive windows that surround the living area offer stunning views of Wellington Harbour, while the added bonus of a wrap-around balcony gives the family the chance to enjoy the scenery in the open air. This room also features a built-in fireplace and a media unit that houses the TV and sound system.
The open-plan living area also receives generous amounts of sunlight through the large windows, making the space much more open and inviting.
A window seat is positioned in the perfect spot to take in the surrounding views, and features cleverly concealed storage in the drawers.
Dining table, Vast Interior. Chairs, Yamakawa Rattan.
A window seat is positioned in the perfect spot to take in the surrounding views, and features cleverly concealed storage in the drawers.
Dining table, Vast Interior. Chairs, Yamakawa Rattan.
While some of their items are stashed away, the couple have also made sure their home is used to display their treasured possessions. The open bamboo cabinet seen here is where Asantha and Minon keep their best crockery, glassware and ornaments.
‘Generally with the homes I work with, everything is hidden away behind doors, so it was refreshing to have clients who wanted things to be out in the open,’ Wallace says. ‘It adds another layer of décor to the room and is part of their heritage.’
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‘Generally with the homes I work with, everything is hidden away behind doors, so it was refreshing to have clients who wanted things to be out in the open,’ Wallace says. ‘It adds another layer of décor to the room and is part of their heritage.’
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On the other side of the dining area, alongside the stairs, is the top of the double-height structure. Here, it becomes a balustrade and display cabinet where the couple can show off their collections. Windows were installed high up on the back wall to let in even more light, allowing the polished glass shelves and their precious cargo to shine.
The gallery hallway that runs along the length of the house provides even more space for the family to display their treasures, including collections of artworks and books.
‘These ceilings here are lower,’ explains Wallace, ‘which creates a more intimate setting.’ This makes the space seem more personal, perfectly suiting the sentimentality of the family’s collections.
‘These ceilings here are lower,’ explains Wallace, ‘which creates a more intimate setting.’ This makes the space seem more personal, perfectly suiting the sentimentality of the family’s collections.
The main bathroom lies just off the gallery hallway and showcases a view of the gorge, which is as stunning as those seen throughout the rest of the house. The egg-shaped bath and wall-mounted toilet add a sophisticated, contemporary feel to the room, while an expansive window invites the beauty of the natural environment into the otherwise simple space. This is the perfect place for members of the family to relax and drink in their spectacular surroundings.
In the master bedroom, a glass wall overlooks the gorge, offering a jaw-dropping view for the couple to wake up to. Heavy blinds and curtains help to block out excess light, and the roof slopes in the same direction as the land, giving the room a protected feel. ‘With all that glass, it still feels private,’ says Wallace, ‘which is the benefit of tucking the bedroom wing around the more secluded side of the hill.’
This room has an entrance to a large terrace which includes a spa along with a well-tended veggie patch. This outdoor area is also accessible from the gallery hallway, so that the children and guests can enjoy the space as well.
Scraplight, Graypants.
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This room has an entrance to a large terrace which includes a spa along with a well-tended veggie patch. This outdoor area is also accessible from the gallery hallway, so that the children and guests can enjoy the space as well.
Scraplight, Graypants.
Check out a stylist’s secrets to give your space the wow factor
This contemporary home with a distinct Sri Lankan edge is everything the homeowners wanted, helping them to stay connected to their roots while also enjoying the best things that New Zealand has to offer.
TELL US…
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TELL US…
What do you think of this home in New Zealand? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Asantha and Minon Wijeyeratne, and their children Chivan, 5, and Avanka, 6 months
Where Korokoro Gorge, Wellington, New Zealand
Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
The building was designed to respond to its surroundings and, as the house is located on a steep hillside, this includes the way in which the roof slopes. Wallace used this angle to compensate for over-glare from the sun, as it blocks out overly bright light at certain times of the day.
The living area in the public wing is where the family spend most of their time. It is clad in hoop pine plywood, which adds warmth to the large space. The kitchen cabinets and flooring are bamboo, bringing a tropical element to the design and adding layers of texture.
‘Asantha is the main chef of the house and is very passionate about cooking, so was quite specific about the layout of the kitchen,’ says Wallace. To keep the cook happy, up-to-date appliances were installed. The U-shaped design of the space provides Asantha with a clear view of the kids as they play in the living area, yet allows the two rooms to remain separate. This was an important part of the architectural brief.
Pendant lights, Tom Dixon.