88 | Villa pays homage to tradition The garage door, which is clad in weatherboard as a hidden feature, blends seamlessly with the overall design. ARCHITECTURE Designgroup Stapleton Elliott Ltd - Wellington T T Rosa Watson An architecturally-designed three-storey villa that sits overlooking the Wellington waterfront is an eye-catching modern home that the owners took care in keeping with the area’s traditional look. Built by Wellington architect Ryan Burge and his wife, Jess, the 305sqm home on Roxburgh Street, Mt Victoria has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a spacious open-plan living area. The basement covers 94m2, the middle floor that is dedicated to living spaces covers 119m2, and the top floor with bedrooms covering 92m2. Ryan said Roxburgh Street held a prominent position in Mount Victoria, with picturesque views over Waitangi Park. The original structure on the property, that dated back to the early 1930s, underwent thorough inspection with a structural engineer and builder that revealed significant structural issues and irreparable damage to windows, doors and cladding. “Recognising this as an opportunity, we decided to replace the existing house with a new villa that pays homage to the traditional style of the surrounding Mount Victoria area,” Ryan said. He said the couple shared a deep appreciation for Mount Victoria, often strolling through its streets with the pram, revelling in its diverse architectural beauty. In maintaining the area’s character, they drew inspiration from neighbouring designs. “This is manifested in features such as highpitched roofs with large eaves, weatherboard cladding, a prominent bay window facing Roxburgh Street, timber window reveals/trims, and ornate villa characteristics.” To create an organic contrast, the Western elevation, that is less visible from Roxburgh Street and Oriental Parade, integrates modern aluminium sheet cladding, chosen for its accessibility and lower maintenance requirements compared to weatherboard. A slight uphill driveway leads to a double-garage at the Roxburgh Street level, separated by a timber picket fence for a clear distinction. The garage door, which is clad in weatherboard as a hidden feature, blends seamlessly with the overall design. Ryan said one of the biggest challenges of the project was securing resource consent from council for demolition presented, and required the involvement of an independent planner, formal support from the builder and structural engineer, and even letters from neighbours supporting the removal of the deteriorating existing house. Ryan is a shareholder, associate, and registered architect at Designgroup Stapleton Elliott (DGSE). He said designing his own house was an exhilarating and enjoyable opportunity. There is a spacious backyard and side-courtyard for outdoor dining that is sheltered from prevailing winds, and the design capitalises on the stunning views over Waitangi Park through extensive glazing in the living spaces and the master bedroom. Work on the house started in March last year, starting with the demolition of the existing house and excavation for the basement. “Recognising this as an opportunity, we decided to replace the existing house with a new villa that pays homage to the traditional style of the surrounding Mount Victoria area.” The family hope to move in this May. Although DGSE was associated with the project, Ryan personally oversaw the design process and project management phase. “Outside of my regular work hours and after putting the kids to sleep, I dedicated my evenings and weekends to this project. “Working within these limited hours naturally extended the overall timeline of the process, but it was a deliberate choice to ensure a personal touch and high level of attention to detail in the design. Jess is a bit of a perfectionist, and she was also very involved in the design process – the last thing I wanted was for the finger to be pointed at me if anything didn’t meet her wants and needs!” Ryan joined DGSE in 2018, and has completed a diverse range of projects including residential, multi-housing residential, commercial, work-space fitouts, education, and industrial developments. Let our superior craftsmanship transform your home. For more than 20 years, the friendly, award-winning team at Well Hung Joinery has been manufacturing custom made timber doors, windows and kitchen cabinetry for Wellington homes. PROUD TO SUPPORT DESIGNGROUP STAPLETON ELLIOTT LTD 04 494 7230 www.wellhungjoinery.co.nz 21 Lower Tyers Road, Ngauranga
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