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A community mission in Ngāruawāhia
As with many communities around New Zealand, Ngāruawāhia, a town in the Waikato region, is… more
Exterior posts and framing are stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black, tying into the interior landing frames in Resene Black.
Exterior bay window and front door painted in Resene Lustacryl in the shade Resene Bach, with exterior posts and deck framing stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black.
Internal walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in the shade Resene Quarter Rice Cake and landing frames in Resene Black.
The warmth of Resene Quarter Rice Cake pairs beautifully with the timber green features in Resene Bach and Resene Norway.
Exterior posts and framing are stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black, tying into the interior landing frames in Resene Black.
A fresh take on a Wellington heritage home
In the heart of Wellington’s Aro Valley, this new home bridges the gap between history and modernity in the most elegant way. The site had long stood empty, an overgrown pocket where a villa once stood, until owner and builder James Dickson enlisted Spacecraft Architects to bring new life to the street.
“James Dickson approached Spacecraft Architects due to our work on smaller houses located on tight sites in the Wellington region,” says architect Tim Gittos. “We were very excited to design in the Aro Valley context which is such a ubiquitous (and colourful!) Wellington suburb.”
Exterior bay window and front door painted in Resene Lustacryl in the shade Resene Bach, with exterior posts and deck framing stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black.
The new space is a contemporary three-bedroom build that both stands out and feels right at home among its character-filled neighbours. The street façade nods to the area’s traditional villas, while gracefully avoiding mimicry. “We pitched a contemporary house, which responded to the context through proportion and volume rather than material similarity and cladding detail, whilst dealing with some of the problems associated with Aro Valley houses, namely being cold, dark and cramped,” says Tim.
Internal walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in the shade Resene Quarter Rice Cake and landing frames in Resene Black.
Inside, light floods through a three-storey atrium, filtering down through slatted landings and illuminating the warm, natural materials. The landings themselves are framed in Resene Black, helping them blend beautifully into the shadow lines of the stairwell. The interior walls are kept fresh in Resene Quarter Rice Cake, while feature walls in Resene Norway add a quiet, nature-inspired touch that connects to the greenery outside.
Colour plays a starring role in this project, offering a subtle yet significant link to the area’s character. “We were keen to use colour to subtly relate to the historic and idiosyncratic context of Aro Valley,” says Tim. “Both the neighbouring buildings have shades of green in their colour schemes that we wanted to pick up on, and the greens also harmonise with the characteristic native vegetation around the houses.”
The warmth of Resene Quarter Rice Cake pairs beautifully with the timber green features in Resene Bach and Resene Norway.
That green is expressed most boldly in the bay window reveal and front door, painted in Resene Bach, continuing through to a matching kitchen wall for a thread of visual harmony. “Bringing this colour through to the front door and echoing it with a feature wall in the kitchen brings a gentle warmth and welcome to the spaces,” Tim says.
Outside, the dark tones of Resene Woodsman Pitch Black ground and frame the home beautifully against the leafy valley backdrop. “The shade of green selected has a similarity to that of a tramping hut we stay at in the Orongorongo Valley,” Tim says, “which is then paired with the Resene Pitch Black stain to be a subtle but elegant addition to the streetscape.”
Exterior posts and framing are stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black, tying into the interior landing frames in Resene Black.
While the design had to navigate strict Wellington City Council heritage controls, Spacecraft Architects took a bold stance. “WCC heritage controls were pushing us toward mimicking the existing houses, faking period details and particularly horizontal rusticated weatherboards,” Tim says. “We pushed hard for a more contemporary approach, with the simple form strengthened and highlighted by the colour palette, and think the outcome speaks for itself.”
This is a home that doesn’t just fill a gap in the street, but celebrates it. A fresh, light-filled contemporary build that respectfully reinterprets the character of Aro Valley through the lens of colour, texture and thoughtful design.
design Spacecraft Architects
build James Dickson Building Solutions
images David Straight
Top tip: For interior timber, use Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K or Resene Qristal ClearFloor 2K for floors and Resene Aquaclear Natural for walls and features. You’ll protect the wood while also showcasing the natural beauty of the grain. If you want to add more colour or depth, you can mix your clear coat with Resene Colorwood Enhance before applying.
Entrant in the 2024/25 Resene Total Colour Awards.
Published: 04 Nov 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
