Seatoun Home, Wellington Property, Ludlam Street Residence, Project Photos, Design

Seatoun House Wellington Residence

Ludlam Street Residential Development in New Zealand design by HMA

post updated 29 March 2026

Tew Wilson House, Wellington

Architects: HERRIOT + MELHUISH: ARCHITECTURE LTD

Location: 68 Ludlam Street, Seatoun, Wellington, New Zealand

19 Mar 2010

Seatoun House

photos : Paul McCredie

House in Seatoun

The brief for this house was for a 4 bedroom family home, good for entertaining large groups. The clients requested open plan kitchen/family/dining spaces with a lounge area able to be shut off. They also needed space for a separate commercial kitchen.

photos : Juergen Rausch

Our design approach combined the following:

– Layering of flat roof planes to allow clerestories and high level glazing.
– Simple composition of forms and robust materials.
– Direct connections between living spaces and sunny sheltered courtyards.
– Privacy from street.
– A Composition of joyful moments with functional living.

NZIA Resene Local Awards for Architecture 2006
Residential Category, Wellington

Seatoun House Wellington images / information from HMA

The Seatoun House is a series of refined residential projects in the coastal suburb of Seatoun, designed by Herriot + Melhuish Architecture (now Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects). These houses are widely published examples of New Zealand contemporary residential architecture, particularly for their clarity of form and response to climate and site.

Overview:

One of the best-known versions, often referred to as Seatoun House (Ludlam Street), was conceived as a four-bedroom family home designed for both everyday living and entertaining.

The architects approached the project through a composition of simple, layered forms, using flat roof planes and carefully positioned glazing to create spatial richness within an otherwise restrained geometry.

Design Concept:

The house is organized through a series of key ideas:

– Layered horizontal planes
Flat roofs are stacked and offset to allow clerestory windows and high-level glazing, bringing daylight deep into the plan while maintaining privacy.

– Clear zoning of spaces
Open-plan kitchen, dining, and family areas form the heart of the house, while a separate lounge can be closed off for more formal use—supporting both daily life and large gatherings.

– Indoor–outdoor connection
Living areas open directly to sunny, sheltered courtyards, a critical move in Wellington’s windy coastal environment.

– Privacy from the street
The composition turns inward, using walls and massing to create protected outdoor spaces while limiting exposure to the public edge.

Location: 68 Ludlam Street, Seatoun, Wellington, New Zealand