Boeing Way House & Studio
Dramatic topography becomes architectural opportunity in this bold hillside design that transforms a steep site into a series of light-filled living spaces commanding spectacular Wellington Harbour views. The project integrates a professional fitness studio with family living, creating an inspiring environment where dramatic vistas fuel both daily life and athletic pursuit.
Currently at sketch design stage, the Fitness Coach studio is perched at the highest point of the site to capture commanding south-east harbour views through floor-to-ceiling glazing. This placement not only maximizes the inspirational outlook for clients but also establishes clear separation between business and residential functions. The studio's warm plywood-lined interior and exposed steel portals create an energizing yet secure environment, with abundant natural light flooding the space throughout the day. Supporting facilities including office, kitchenette and bathroom ensure the studio operates independently from the family home.
The residential house descends down the hillside responding to the steep topography while maintaining visual connection to Wellington Harbour. The main living level features an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area with extensive glazing framing the dramatic views. Multiple outdoor spaces address Wellington's challenging wind environment: a deck wraps around the north-east corner, while a sheltered courtyard provides an alternative outdoor space protected by building mass and proposed vegetation. The bedroom level, terraced into the hillside below, provides three bedrooms including a main suite, family bathroom, separate office, and generous deck spaces.
A 30m² self-contained granny flat above the double garage offers income-generation potential, with its own independent access, kitchenette, full bathroom, and private deck ensuring privacy for both residents and tenants.
The design achieves the critical dual orientation of maximizing northern sun while simultaneously capturing south-east harbour views. Northern light reaches the studio through high-level glazing and penetrates the living level via the courtyard space, while the primary outlook remains focused on the harbour. Strategic positioning of deck spaces to the east and south protects outdoor areas from prevailing north-westerlies, creating sheltered zones for year-round use.
The material palette emphasizes simplicity and low maintenance. The building's clean horizontal lines follow the site contours. A restrained architectural language allows the structure to settle into the hillside, creating a contemporary form that responds to rather than dominates the dramatic landscape.
© Wallace Architects Ltd
