Worselys Spur House, Port Hills, Christchurch Architecture, NZ Home, New Zealand Real Estate, Property Images
Worselys Spur House in Port Hills
14 Mar 2022
Design: AW Architects
Location: Port Hills, Christchurch, New Zealand

Photos: Lisa Gane
Worselys Spur House, NZ
Perched in the Port Hills above Christchurch, the Worselys Spur House commands a panoramic outlook over the city from the Southern Alps up to the Kaikoura ranges.

The dark hued solid plaster ground floor anchors the house while the light bronze anodised top box floats above like a lantern.
The design creates multiple sheltered zones with large roof overhangs and deck spaces in a setting exposed to high winds and heat. Extensive landscaping features volcanic rock walls, lawn terraces, paving and gravel pathways softened with grassy mounds, shrubs and trees.
The entry contains a slate wall and full height cedar pivot doors. Warm oak flooring continues throughout, while full height glazing flows seamlessly to the exterior. A mixture of white and birch joinery along quartzite benchtops feature in the home, and neutral walls provide space for the owners large works of art.

The project’s site and context

The site is approximately 4.3 hectares and is located near the top of Worsleys Spur in the Port Hills overlooking Christchurch. It is moderately steep and runs down to the valley floor. Due to the 2017 Port Hills fire, the owners previous home was destroyed and the site was cleared of vegetation. There a...