An exterior photograph of the facade of Salmont Place showcasing the pre-weathered zinc corrugated cladding, captured from an external vantage point.

Architect: Parsonson Architect ltd.

Photography: David Straight

An exterior photograph of the northern elevation from Salmont Place features jade-green vertical mesh screens, with the surrounding foliage, captured from an external vantage point.

A close-up photograph of the exterior of the second floor of Salmont Place, highlighting the combination of concrete and glass in the wall construction, captured during the beautiful sunset lighting.

A close-up view of the western elevation of the building as seen from Salamanka Street, showcasing the parking area located at Salmont Place.

A close-up photograph of the exterior design of Salmont Place, showcasing the use of corrugated zinc cladding to create a textured aesthetic that complements the vertical lines of the building's architecture. — A close-up photograph of the exterior design of Salmont Place, showcasing the use of corrugated zinc cladding to create a textured aesthetic that complements the vertical lines of the building’s architecture.

Exterior photograph of the second floor of Salmont Place showcasing a room with open sliding glass door leading to a veranda enclosed by white fence, surrounded by trees that blend with the building's aesthetic. — Exterior photograph of the second floor of Salmont Place showcasing a room with open sliding glass door leading to a veranda enclosed by white fence, surrounded by trees that blend with the building’s aesthetic.

A close-up photograph of the pure white-colored exterior stairway leading to the outdoor clothes-drying area of Salmont Place house.

A photograph of the shared outdoor clothes-drying area located at Salmont Place.

An exterior photograph of the open outdoor area adjacent upstairs of Salmont Place, providing access to the main living room.

An interior photograph of the living room located on the upper floor, highlighting the use of vertical lines in the design elements on the fireplace such as the corrugated zinc clad.

A close-up photograph of the fireplace and American ash bookcase, emphasizing the use of vertical lines in the design elements and its continuity with the building's vertical exterior cladding. — A close-up photograph of the fireplace and American ash bookcase, emphasizing the use of vertical lines in the design elements and its continuity with the building’s vertical exterior cladding.

An interior shot of the winter garden highlighting the view over the harbour.

Interior shot of the dining area of the downstairs apartment leads to its living area on the left side. — An interior shot of the dining area of the downstairs apartment leading to the living area on the left side.

A close up shot of the downstair's dining area leading to the kitchen, showcasing its minimalist interior design. — A close up shot of the downstair’s dining area leading to the kitchen, showcasing its minimalist interior design.

A focus shot of a timeless palette of pale American ash cabinetry in the kitchen area.

An interior shot of living area leads to an outside terrace and lawn area.

A shared image of the kitchen and breakfast dining area upstairs showcasing a view over the harbour.

An interior shot of a hallway, highlighting the artwork frames hanging on the wall.

A photography of a bedroom interior design focusing on a small wooden table with a light bulb hanging on top of it. — A photograph of a bedroom interior design showcasing a small wooden table with a hanging light bulb above it.

A close up photo of the outside terrace and lawn area upstairs during sunset.

An interior shot of the bathroom focusing on the stile door and white tiled wall where tissue roll is placed.

An interior shot of the bathroom that has a tiling laid out in an irregular pattern, hinting at the verticality of the exterior.

An interior shot of the bathroom focusing on a simple material's palette leading to the shower area. — An interior shot of the bathroom focusing on a simple material’s palette leading to the shower area.

The site straddles Salamanca Road and Salmont Place on the edge of Wellington’s Botanical Gardens, with wonderful views east across the city to the harbour and west to Tinakori Hill. Two generous sized single level dwellings were fitted into the retained 2 storey concrete structure of the 1950’s house that occupied the site. The upper dwelling is accessed from Salamanca Road and the lower from Salmont Place with a 12m height difference between the 2 roads.

The lower dwelling requires steps up from the road and a lift from its garage to provide access. The dwellings are laid out so that main living spaces enjoy views across the city and harbour and generous sunlight. There are good connections to the different outdoor living areas, while still allowing for privacy between the interior and exterior spaces of both the dwellings.

The plan of the living spaces is ‘bent’ northwards to allow later afternoon sun into both levels and to direct views. The upstairs dwelling has a ‘winter garden’ facing the harbour, which is an inside/outside space fringed in an upstairs outdoor garden protected with slender vertical green and permeable Kaynemaille screens. It can be opened up in different directions depending on the sun and wind conditions, providing a manual way of regulating the temperature of the house.

The dwellings share an outdoor clothes-drying area on a half level between both units. The original 1950’s house was built in a modernist style and there is mix of eras in the housing in the nearby streets. We have taken a similar approach to the original house by using a flat roof, which is sloped up to the west to lift the eye up to the views of Tinakori Hill from deep in the plan.

This has resulted in a dwelling that is low slung, horizontal and low key from Salamanca Road, and tall and vertical from Salmont Place.

Sustainability

The apartments have been designed using Passive House principles, but without full certification, utilising high levels of insulation, an air-tightness wrap behind a services cavity within the wall and ceiling constructions, along with a heat-recovery ventilation system minimising heating requirements while maintaining comfortable and healthy indoor air quality, with minimal heat loss.

Thermally broken double glazed joinery helps to further minimise heat losses. The spaces have been carefully planned to benefit from passive solar gain, while Kaynemaile screens and extended eaves help to control unwanted heat gain through shading in summer. The winter garden in the upper apartment is used as a heat regulator, connecting to the internal spaces or opening up to the outside to naturally ventilate the interior.

Significant concrete structural elements from the existing dwellings were able to be retained and incorporated within the new dwellings, minimising construction waste and reducing the embodied energy required for the new construction. Corrugated profiled zinc was used on the exterior to provide a long life, low maintenance envelope.