Kāpiti House

Kāpiti House is a rural home shaped by care, clarity and connection. Able to operate off-grid and carbon-positive, it pairs technical performance with a restrained material palette and calm, grounded architecture.

Located on a 16-acre site just inland from the Kāpiti Coast, the house is made up of two forms - a barn and a keep - that step across a natural rise in the land. The main house contains shared living and sleeping spaces, while the adjacent two-storey tower offers flexible guest accommodation. A series of exterior spaces sit into their specific contours and are configured to create exterior rooms with distinct character. The pool encloses that the orchard, the space between the two main built forms, and the regenerative permaculture garden all add to the richness of the home.

Inside, the architecture is calm and characterful. The main living space is defined by tall, dramatic volumes and exposed CLT trusses. All longitudinal walls and ceilings are clad in tempered hardboard, while cross walls are lined with recycled rimu. There is no plasterboard; surfaces are left largely untreated, with just a clear protective coat to preserve the tone and tactility of the materials. Simple detailing, restrained junctions, and honest finishes allow the structure to take the lead.

Colour is used sparingly but purposefully. The ends of interior doors are painted to match the colour of each room, while drapes feature subtle two-tone flashes. Instead of conventional wardrobe joinery, textured fabric panels from Laos and Indonesia hang in soft contrast to the timber linings. The result is a home that is informal and rich in personality – a quiet backdrop for daily life, art, and collected objects.

This is a house designed to hold whānau and visitors, daily life and quiet retreat. Its strength lies in its simplicity – technically rigorous, deeply personal, and built to last.

 

Sustainability Features

• Carbon-positive and net-zero energy, with the potential to be off-grid
• Solar generation, rainwater collection and on-site treatment system
• Passive thermal design with no active heating or cooling required
• Externally insulated envelope and deep eaves for seasonal comfort
• No plasterboard – all finishes are natural
• Low-carbon concrete
• Wool insulation
• Wool carpets and drapes
• Exterior clad in 1200mm modules of Acoya.