CORR

This small-but-perfectly formed Box™ home is located in Lower Hutt. It was built as a young couple’s first home and its compact size expresses some big ideas in architecture.

This small-but-perfectly formed Box™ home is located in Lower Hutt. It was built as a young couple’s first home and, although it has a footprint of only 115 square metres (plus garage and storage areas), its compact size expresses some big ideas in architecture.

The house design adapted to a site that was not only petite, but came with the challenge of a storm-water drain that ran the length of the building platform.

At Box™ this is just the type of ‘problem’ we love! Our architect turned it into an opportunity and designed a home in two distinct forms: a living block surrounded by decks that seem to hover amidst the greenery; and a bedroom block raised a half storey which cleverly elevates it above the drain and provides storage and a garage below. Clad in low-cost polycarbonate sheet, at night, when the lights are turned on, this cube-like storage zone glows like a beacon providing enough outdoor illumination for family gatherings.

The homeowners were thrilled with the result which has no wasted space – a house that proves less can most definitely be more.

This house received a New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) award for the Wellington region, in the small house category.