Perched on a compact site in Seatoun Heights, the Simpson House is a bold response to the challenge of designing for small spaces. The design, a striking combination of a rippled aluminium-clad tower and a plaster-coated box, creates a sense of openness and lightness despite its constrained footprint.

 

The home is arranged across three levels to maximise space and views. The lower level houses two bedrooms and a bathroom, while the upper-level tower contains a third bedroom and ensuite. The heart of the home—the living area, kitchen, and study—sits on the middle level, with decks extending out to create elevated outdoor living spaces among the trees.

 

Designed by Nic Ballara and Richard Ainsworth, in 2000 the project was recognised with an NZIA Wellington Architecture Award and Young Professional Award in Victoria University Architecture School’s alumni awards. Judges praised its confident approach to spatial constraints, noting that it carefully folds into its tight urban site with an efficiency that belies its limitations. The result is a home that feels far larger than its footprint, offering both openness and retreat in a thoughtfully composed architectural form.