Sky Frame House

An unbuilt house on a steep hillside in Ngaio, Wellington, with four floors and living spaces extending into the bush at the top.

About the design

Project details

Project: Self-directed architectural design project
My role: Sole designer — design, planning response, CAD documentation and visualisation
Status: Unbuilt · 2025

Views

Watercolour-style view of the whole Sky Frame House from above, with a four-storey timber tower, roof terrace and glazed wing surrounded by native bush. — The house and its bush setting. Watercolour-style visualisation.

Rendered view from the stair towards the dining table and kitchen, with timber flooring and sunlight through the glazing. — Kitchen and dining space from the stair. Rendered view.

Rendered daytime view of the dining table beside the stair void, with timber rafters, bookshelves and an opening onto the deck. — Dining space and stair void looking towards the deck. Rendered view.

Watercolour-style view of the upper floors and glazed living spaces above dense planting, with a person standing on the terrace. — North-east elevation. Watercolour-style visualisation.

Rendered view of two people on the entry steps beside the timber tower, a blue retaining wall and dense planting. — Entry steps and courtyard. Rendered view.

Watercolour-style view of the timber-clad south wall, tall windows and open roof terrace with exposed rafters and green benches. — South wall and roof terrace. Watercolour-style visualisation.

Watercolour-style view of the glazed kitchen wing and narrow balcony extending into native bush, with tree shadows across the roof. — The glazed wing among the trees. Watercolour-style visualisation.

Rendered view from the west-side deck into the glazed living wing, with a green bench, plants and a person seated at the dining table. — Living and dining spaces from the west-side deck. Rendered view.

Rendered view across the dining table towards a timber-lined ceiling, shelving and glazing into the bush. — Dining space. Rendered view.

Rendered evening view of the dining space beside the stair void, with warm lighting, timber rafters and bookshelves. — Dining space and stair void at night. Rendered view.

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Plans

Ground floor plan of Sky Frame House, with the building layout and reference grid. — Ground floor plan.

First floor plan of Sky Frame House, showing the arrangement of rooms and stair. — First floor plan.

Second floor plan of Sky Frame House, showing the living level and stair connection. — Second floor plan.

Third floor plan showing the open deck, stair void, dining space, kitchen and WC. — Third floor plan. Kitchen and dining extend beside the open terrace.

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Four levels. Enlarge to zoom and explore the detail.

Elevations

North elevation drawing of Sky Frame House with floor levels and building outline. — North elevation.

East elevation drawing of Sky Frame House with floor levels and building outline. — East elevation.

South elevation drawing of Sky Frame House with floor levels and building outline. — South elevation.

West elevation showing the four-storey tower, glazed upper wing, terrace and steep ground line. — West elevation. The upper wing extends above the hillside.

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Four sides of the house. Enlarge to explore the levels and linework.

3D model

The complete Sky Frame House model, showing the tower, glazed upper wing and hillside steps.

Explore the house in 3D

Turn the model, explore each floor, or watch the house assemble.

An interactive study of Allan Clayton’s unbuilt design. The sequence explains the model’s assembly; it is not a construction programme. Developed for Basecourse Horizon, with an interaction reference from Pascal Architecture ↗.

Site and planning

The steep site and planning controls determined the building’s footprint and height. I developed the design within the limits for maximum height, height in relation to boundary, site coverage and subdivision.

The house has four floors. The main living spaces are at the top, with a glazed wing extending towards the native reserve behind the site.

Design and materials

A 1911 belltower by Frederick de Jersey Clere was an early reference for the design. I was interested in its solid base and open belvedere, and in adapting that arrangement to a house.

The design uses vertical shiplap timber, exposed rafters and galvanised steel. An open terrace sits beside the glazed living wing on the top floor.

Project work

I set this project for myself and developed it independently, from the planning response and architectural design through to CAD documentation and the visualisations shown here. The house remains unbuilt.

Exhibition

Selected for Paparahi, Victoria University of Wellington School of Architecture 50th-anniversary exhibition, 2025.

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