Athfield House

• 1965
• Construction begins
• 1970
• Dwelling converted to two flats and a garage (00058:695:C31718)
• 1980
• Flat additions and alterations (00058:1273:C53982)
• 1987
• Addition – Workshop (00059:71:D5602)
• 1987
• Dwelling additions and alterations (00059:101:D6511)
• 1987
• Addition – Swimming Pool (00059:142:D7776)
• 1988
• Dwelling additions and alterations (00059:184:D8979)
• 1994
• Alterations – 2 bedroom apartment (00061:12:10363)

• 1965
• Ian and Clare Athfield

Not assessed

105 Amritsar Street is a complex of arrangement of buildings, courtyards and terraces that are clustered on a steep hillside overlooking Wellington Harbour. The overall effect is that of a village, rather than a single detached suburban dwelling, and the site continues to evolve organically. It has been noted that Athfield ‘…never had a fixed end-point in mind for the house. Rather, he imagined that, like a Mediterranean village, it would grow down the Khandallah hillside and accommodate a community rather than a nuclear family.’ The evolving and dynamic nature of the project allow for experimental forms, spatial arrangements, and building technologies.

The earliest parts of the house date from 1965 and include a mix of hipped, gabled and flat roof forms with cylindrical skylights. The basic construction materials were concrete floors, reinforced concrete block walls and timber framed roofs. Most of the walls and roofs were coated with textured render and painted white. The look-out tower, with its distinctive curved shapes and cylindrical skylight and windows was added in 1971.

Many of the following buildings continue with the palette of the white painted walls and roofs that are synonymous with the vernacular architecture of Mediterranean hillside villages. Others are built from exposed concrete, and concrete blocks, or clad in timber weatherboards and corrugated or long-run steel that both conform to and challenge the local vernacular.

The site continues to evolve, and ‘Athfield would like to see it grow to twice the size and three or four times as complex, to demonstrate his alternative to suburbia more overtly.’ Athfield has said that ‘I believe that architecture is a social statement that has a responsibility beyond the building, the client and the architect. My work is characterised by strong sculptural forms that question the concept of a building as a single object, and I try to impart a sense of order and integrity in the use of materials.’ Athfield’s own house and office is said to be his ‘most important building’ and clearly demonstrates the core philosophies of the architect.

Concrete blocks, timber, fibrous plaster, reinforced concrete, brick (chimneys), steel, plaster, flintcote roofing.

Athfield house is built on a steep hillside site above Wellington Harbour. This position, and the unusual organic design, has helped to make the house a landmark on the harbour’s edge.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  105 Amritsar Street is a complex of arrangement of buildings, courtyards and terraces that are clustered on a steep hillside overlooking Wellington Harbour. The overall effect is that of a village, rather than a single detached suburban dwelling, and the site continues to evolve organically. Athfield’s own house and office is said to be his ‘most important building’ and clearly demonstrates the core philosophies of the architect.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  Athfield house and office is built on a steep hillside site above Wellington Harbour. This position, and the unusual organic design, has helped to make the house a landmark on the harbour’s edge. The building defines the Khandallah area and contributes greatly to the character of Wellington.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  The house and office at Amritsar Street is said to be the most important work of one of New Zealand’s best known architects, Ian Athfield. Athfield’s own house and office is said to be his ‘most important building’ and clearly demonstrates the core philosophies of the architect. The building reflects the battles that Athfield has had with town planners, his vision for an alternative to suburbia, and ties into the idea that a ‘house can be a small city’.

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  This building is located on a site that is known to be of importance to Maori known as Tutai Weera (map symbol M51).

• Technological

  Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

  This building is of technical value as it has for the most part been built by Athfield himself. He has used many different materials in the construction of the house and has designed it in an innovative way.

• Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  This building contributes to a sense of place in Wellington as it is a prominent landmark sited above the Harbour.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building is likely to be held in high public esteem as one of the most important works by one of New Zealand’s best, and best-known, architects.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  This building has authenticity as it retains significant fabric from its original construction. The additions that have been made have been carried out in a cohesive way with the original design.

• Local Regional National International

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  As the dwelling of one of New Zealand’s most internationally acclaimed architects, the house has played a critical role in the exploration of personal domestic design concepts which has ensured that the Athfield house is one of the most highly influential houses in New Zealand twentieth century architecture.  Its position and design have created a significant landmark on the harbour edge.

• Rare

  Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

  The building is a relatively rare example of a communal housing ‘experiment’ and continues to evolve in a dynamic and organic way.

Not assessed

• Cooper, Theresa. ‘99-105 Amritsar Street, Khandallah’, Unpublished Heritage Assessment for Wellington City Council, 2006.
• Gatley, Julia. ‘Athfield Architects’. Auckland: Auckland University Press. 2012.
• WCA (00058-496-C21365)
• Online Sources
• archINFORM biography, ‘Ian Athfield’, accessed 3/4/13,
• Gately, Julia. Athfield Architects, (Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2012)
• Model of Athfield House, Athfield Architects Ltd., image accessed 3/4/2013,
• Nicole Stock, ‘Up Close and Personal: Ian Athfield’, Architecture Now, accessed 3/4/13,

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