Architects: Seear-Budd Ross
Year: 2023
Photographs: Thomas Seear-Budd
Landscape Designers: Xanthe White Design
City: Wellington
Country: New Zealand
Upper Watt Residence, a residential building designed by Seear-Budd Ross in Wellington, has transformed a small storage space into an ensuite, adding a work-from-home studio and guest bedroom. The design aimed to make the southern part of the property child-friendly and safe. Completed in 2023, the project involved addressing dilapidated brick retaining walls, ensuring both safety and aesthetic appeal.
The client requested the conversion of a small storage area under their house into an ensuite, along with an extension for a work-from-home studio and guest bedroom. The design also included making the southern part of the property child-friendly and safe, addressing the unsafe and failing brick retaining walls on site.
Situated on a ridgeline in Wadestown, Wellington, the Upper Watt Residence offers expansive views of Wellington Harbour. The 298m² site features an early 1900s two-story double-brick home. The east-facing extension, embedded into the hill, benefits from protection against northerly winds. Soft planting surrounds the extension and green roof, creating a harmonious integration with the landscape.
The interior, featuring plaster, timber, and brick, is calm and serene, with a fully glazed east-facing facade and a large skylight along the northern wall. On windy days, the building provides a welcome retreat, while in summer, glass doors open to connect with the garden.
The extension uses lime-covered bricks, echoing the existing double-brick home. The low-maintenance bricks were selected for their complementarity to the existing structure, with a custom mortar finish developed on-site. The studio features a refined brick parapet detail, ensuring a singular visual appearance.
The roof is a membrane structure with irrigated planting, while engineered masonry walls provide necessary retaining. The ensuite uses honed limestone tiles, polished plaster, soft curtains, and pale oak, with materials chosen for their high quality, resilience, and durability.
Natural materials like brick, timber, plaster, and stone are extensively used. Enhanced insulation under the slab, in walls, and roof build-ups promotes thermal efficiency. Careful window placement manages interior sunlight, and a green roof adds visual and environmental benefits. The previously underutilized site is now fully functional, showcasing sustainable design for growing families.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Wellington, New Zealand
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
