Parsonson Architects Ltd.

Francis Bell House

Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects

FRANCIS BELL HOUSE

Parsonson Architects

DESIGN TEAM
Gerald Parsonson, Nigel Case

BUILDER
Windey Construction Ltd

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
New Zealand

CATEGORY
Houses

The site is located in Eastbourne, a seaside suburb situated across Wellington harbour from Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.

Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects

Large layers of hills surround the harbour on two sides creating a varied and interesting topography.

The property is steep and borders a large area of native bush reserve and is only by accessible by steps and cable car.

Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects

It sits high above the other houses in the area and is surrounded by bush and bird song. The house is composed in two extrusions, upstairs and downstairs.

Upstairs is bent to follow the contours of the land and contain a sheltered upper garden and lawn, downstairs is straight, following the contours at first then cantilevering out to the view.

Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects

The point where these two forms separate creates the entry courtyard, which is punctuated by a chimney.

The strip like forms are accentuated further by the use of dark corrugated iron cladding and lines of windows and green fibre-cement, which ensures the house is folded into and sits almost invisibly in its setting.

Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects

The roof of the living level below forms a large deck for the upper level, creating a runway floating in an amphitheatre of bush.


Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects
Francis Bell House
© Parsonson Architects


Francis Bell House
elevation 01
Francis Bell House
elevation 02
Francis Bell House
elevation 03
Francis Bell House
elevation 04


Francis Bell House
lower plan
Francis Bell House
upper plan

Parsonson Architects Ltd.
T +64 4 3842969 F +64 4 3842663
Parsonson Architects Ltd.
181 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6001, New Zealand