Evidencing the tradition of innovative work in Wellington, Eastbourne House embodies a unique response to a difficult site. Crafted by Stevens Lawson Architects, the cliffside home presents as both a retreat and lookout.
Set on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour, Eastbourne House reinforces the unusual character of local homes which, responding to harsh weather and steep terrain, have earnt the reputation of architecture ‘on the edge.’ “The building needed to be built from the top down for site access, unlike most buildings which are built from the bottom up,” says Nicholas Stevens, co-design lead on the project. “As you can imagine, logistically this makes for a far more complex and time-consuming build.” With a solid foundation, rigid structure and multitude of curved edges, the cliffside home evokes the image of a large rock that has been shaped by the weather.
From the road, residents ascend a ramped driveway to reach an undercroft: “At that point you’re confronted with an extraordinary artwork by the artist John Reynolds, which is a tribute to Wellington’s wild weather and its condition of living on the edge,” says Stevens. Inside the cliffside home, a helical staircase winds from the foyer to the top of the home, passing the bedroom level. A striking display of black steelwork, the feature is complete with an elegant timber floor overlay. “We wanted to create a real experience of moving through the house, almost a choreography of space” says Stevens.
At the top of the stairs is a double-height space containing the main living area. The room is calm, equally uplifting and similar to an observation post, offering a clear view of the horizon. Sliding doors can be opened to blur the boundary between the living room and deck. “The terrace itself is an interesting space in its own right,” notes Stevens. “It’s not one of those terraces which sort of hangs out in space and is exposed on all sides, it’s a little bit more cave-like.” Sheltered areas for cooking and dining encourage residents to enjoy the tranquil microclimate and spend time watching nature.
As well as frequent encounters with harsh wind, the cliffside home has the capacity to withstand strong vibrations, owed to its position on a fault line. Its durable exterior is created using black glazed terracotta tiles and black aluminium; visually, the materials recede into the darkness of the native bush. “The interior is in contrast to this [image]: light and airy,” says Stevens. Forté engineered oak flooring covers the living area, staircase, and hallways. On the terrace, Forté millboard decking is used as a sustainable alternative to hardwood. “We’re really impressed by the way the millboard decking can match the oak flooring inside. It’s warm, it’s textured, it’s prefinished … we think it really adds to the atmosphere of this house,” says Stevens.
A startling take on a cliffside home, Eastbourne Residence both protects from and embraces its lively natural context. Championing uniqueness, Stevens Lawson Architects establishes a fresh iteration of architecture ‘on the edge.’
00:00 – Introduction to the Cliffside Home
01:13 – Designing for Innovation
01:46 – A Walkthrough of the Home
04:17 – Building on Difficult Terrain
04:58 – The Robust Exterior Material Palette
05:26 – The Light and Airy Interior Material Palette
06:19 – Favourite Aspects of the Home
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Photography by Mark Smith.
Architecture and interior design by Stevens Lawson Architects.
Build by Planit Construction.
Engineering by Sullivan Hall.
Joinery by APL.
Timber flooring by Forté.
Artwork by John Reynolds.
Filmed and edited by Aidan Rogers.
Production by The Local Production.
#Cliffside #Home #Architecture
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