Inside a Cliffside Home Nestled Into a Mountain Forest (House Tour)

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

[CourtneyBishopPOA]

oh wow, I loveee the subtle contrast. It's dark and moody, but light and airy, like the architect said. Yet, it's not a cold or stark contrast. There's a warmth to it, and it effortlessly blends together. It's really beautiful. Truly a theatre overlooking that stunning office view.

[hemidesign]

This house is FREAKING GORGEOUS!!! that sunset view.. just WOW!

[janelte]

The framing of the view by that enclosed terrace is extraordinary - the feeling of shelter and enclosure adds to view in a way I wouldn't expect. The colour and material palettes are masterful- the whole home feels deeply connected to the surrounds despite its enormous size and the obvious complexities of the construction on such a steep site. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[matiaslopezllovet]

Its nice to see there are amazing projects still able to surprise with new ideas and materials. Congrats to the architects and the builder.

[alexm]

That staircase, exterior, view and upper deck is crazzzy!! just wow

[nayeetenangolo]

The feeling of transition from the indoor to the outdoor is surreal. Ya'll did an amazing job

[bryansandiego]

Bravo to the family and architects brave enough to try something new. We need more unique and modern homes like this! Love it!

[bonifacemunyuira]

I never wanted the video to end😅, kind of video. Wow!!

[JaakuDesu]

Seeing that beautiful staircase with the piano and strings playing made me emotional! 😂
What a beautiful piece of artwork that somebody gets the privilege of calling as their home!

[fantasticzz]

The workmanship exudes every inch. ❤ gorgeous doesn’t even cut it

[nikkilogan]

Wow! I'm really impressed of this home. The balcony has an amazing view. Love the design of this home. Thanks Local Project

[keithronson]

Jaw dropping! Incredible. Stunning. This is one destined for greatness. And will be used countless times in film and TV. Thank you for sharing. And an in-depth appraisal of design and materials.

[mrvk]

I love the sculpted look from the outside and inside of the house - those curves on the exterior and the unique terrace to the spiral staircase. And it uses dark timer and dark tiles on the exterior to create a beautiful contrast with the natural oak flooring. I've seen this look before but this one just nails the contrasts and saturation in my view.

[jondutton]

When an architect can describe the location in an artistic way, the watch is worth while.

[dominiquefrapie]

Bravo pour cette magnifique réalisation
Nous commençons fortement à imaginer de quitter définitivement la France pour revivre dans un pays où les réalisations modernes
Se confondent avec l’environnement
Magnifique

[JBOsurf]

Fab house and a simple description from the architect. Not like the nonsense spouted in most TLP videos.

[claudiaperalta]

Increíble!!! Felicitaciones es una casa increíble. Amo♥️🙌🏻saludos desde sur de Chile🇨🇱

[holsen]

What a stunning house, love the black elements and the CAVE 🤟Well done Stevens Lawson Architects

[ANZLAND]

I love the sculpted look from the outside and inside of the house

[michelfortier]

Love every part of this house. Something to be quite proud of. So striking!