- Couple selling their Roger Walker-designed home in Lower Hutt.
- Walker’s chief builder built the unusual house as his own home.
- “It’s a surreal feeling, that this huge monument, this castle, is our home."
When LJ Shaw caught an Uber to her new home, the driver commented: “You fullas must have won the lottery." For six years, that’s exactly how Shaw and her husband Peter Tompson have felt every time they've walked through the door of their Roger Walker-designed home at 454 Stokes Valley Road, in Lower Hutt.
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The business consultant cried when she lost out on a more conventional-looking home nearby in 2018, but it was meant to be. The next property she looked at was Parker House, named after Walker’s head builder, Colin Parker.
Like other Walker creations, the house is a modern take on a medieval castle. It sports triangular rooflines, a turret, circular windows, and some unusual flourishes inside. “When we saw the home, it felt like we were looking at a piece of art, rather than a house,” Shaw told OneRoof.
The property boasts a koru-shaped doorway and several other unique flourishes. Photo / Supplied
“It’s a surreal feeling, that this huge monument, this castle, is our home. You feel like a caretaker for a house like this - preserving its integrity and beauty.”
The couple bought the home from Parker, who had lived there for more than 40 years. He took them on a tour of the home and pointed out some of the more unusual features, right down to the insulation, which wasn’t common in the late 1970s.
“He built this home lovingly on weekends and after work over several years. The love, and care and attention he put in is truly remarkable,” Shaw said.
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There are many standout features. A central archway in the home is koru-shaped, and plaster koru art is built into the lounge wall. Parker designed multiple lead lights for the home.
“The builder was extremely artistic – a very creative man who designed features like the curved kitchen doors. The lead light windows, plaster koru art, and intricate woodwork make this home truly special,” Shaw said.
She added: “You get views out of every single window, and it’s private and secluded yet central to both Lower and Upper Hutt.”
The atrium is the current owner’s favourite spot. Photo / Supplied
The owners feels like they are caretakers of a work of art. Photo / Supplied
Shaw’s favourite feature of the home is the glass atrium. “It has a glass prism roof, with a bleeding heart [lamprocapnos] plant that’s over 25 years old.” The windows in the atrium are built out of concrete pipes with tilting windows.
When Shaw and Tompson viewed the home, Parker reminisced about the period in the late 1970s when he constructed the home.
“He pulled out photo albums of the original build,” she said. That included pictures of Parker in his stubbies [shorts] and Ray Ban sunglasses, building the tower. “We took photographs, and we’ve preserved these on a USB for the new owners.” They will also hand over the original plans.
Shaw said the couple have kept most of the original features but had to carry out some upgrades. “We’ve future-proofed the home while maintaining its character, adding moisture control units, new laminates, and updated bathrooms,” she said.
The five-bedroom house sits on a 892sqm section and has an RV of $880,000. Photo / Supplied
She added: “Every time you drive down the driveway, you never stop being amazed at how privileged we are to own a property like this.
“You never take it for granted. When someone sees it for the first time you re-live the magic.” That magic extends outdoors as well. “It’s a botanist’s dream. The number of native plants that just spring up ... you truly are connected to nature,” Shaw said.
“There’s a boardwalk that completely surrounds the back part of the house, so you’re walking through the treetops.” Some of the garden features are Gaudí-esque, Shaw said.
She added that the house came with all the sculptures and garden ornaments. “We had been here for a whole year and were still finding amazing little sculptures, bonsais, and handmade items throughout the property.”
One special feature of the neighbourhood is that couple’s home has a sibling next door, which was designed by Walker for Parker’s sister. It sold two years ago for $847,000.
Roger Walker’s own home, at 175 Grant Road, in Thorndon, Wellington, is up for grabs for $1.595m-plus. Photo / Supplied
Another Walker home can be picked up at 65 Parrs Road, in Hurworth, New Plymouth. Photo / Supplied
“The two properties blend like a beautiful, whimsical garden with bespoke architecture,” Shaw said.
Shaw and Tompson are selling 454 Stokes Valley Road to be closer to their parents, who live in the South Island. “We know we’ll never own another house like this,” Shaw said. “We’ve put our heart and soul into it. We’ve loved it here. But we’re excited for a new family to create loving memories here.”
The five-bedroom, two-bathroom home is listed for sale with Ray White agent Annette Sliper and is for sale by negotiation. It is not the only Walker-designed home up for grabs, though. The architect’s own home, an iconic pink and green Wellington castle, is seeking buyer enquiries over $1.595 million.
Walker-designed homes at 65 Parrs Road, in Hurworth, New Plymouth, and at 56 Pomare Road, in Tirohanga, Lower Hutt, are also for sale, by way of negotiation.
- 454 Stokes Valley Road, Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt City, is for sale by negotiation
