Kapiti House, Wellington, NZ property, real estate images, Modern NZ property project

Kāpiti House, Wellington, NZ property

21 November 2025

Design: Studio Pacific Architecture

Location: Kāpiti Coast, Wellington, New Zealand

Photos: Simon Devitt

Kapiti House, New Zealand

Kāpiti House is a rural home shaped by care, clarity and connection. Able to operate off-grid and carbon-positive, it pairs technical performance with a restrained material palette and calm, grounded architecture.

Located on a 16-acre site just inland from the Kāpiti Coast, the house is made up of two forms – a barn and a keep – that step across a natural rise in the land. The main house contains shared living and sleeping spaces, while the adjacent two-storey tower offers flexible guest accommodation.

A series of exterior spaces sit into their specific contours and are configured to create exterior rooms with distinct character. The pool encloses the orchard, the space between the two main built forms, and the regenerative permaculture garden all add to the richness of the home.

Inside, the architecture is calm and characterful. The main living space is defined by tall, dramatic volumes and exposed LVL trusses.

All longitudinal walls and ceilings are clad in tempered hardboard, while cross walls are lined with recycled rimu. There is no plasterboard; surfaces are left largely untreated, with just a clear protective coat to preserve the tone and tactility of the materials. Simple detailing, restrained junctions, and honest finishes allow the structure to take the lead.

Colour is used sparingly but purposefully. The ends of interior doors are painted to match the colour of each room, while drapes feature subtle two-tone flashes. Instead of conventional wardrobe joinery, textured fabric panels from Laos and Indonesia hang in soft contrast to the timber linings.

The result is a home that is informal and rich in personality – a quiet backdrop for daily life, art, and collected objects.

This is a house designed to hold whānau and visitors, daily life and quiet retreat. Its strength lies in its simplicity – technically rigorous, deeply personal, and built to last.