Valley

A concrete Christchurch home shaped by basalt, trees and permanence

AO Architecture designed Valley on a tightly constrained Christchurch hillside site between a basalt cliff and a tree-lined waterway. The clients wanted a house with a sense of permanence – something intended to endure across generations. Concrete and glass became the defining materials, while the planning reorganised the site to recover north-facing outdoor space and make the cliff itself part of the experience of the house.

Freeing the north-facing side

The previous earthquake-damaged house had a concrete driveway occupying much of the north-facing outdoor area.

We relocated the driveway to the southern edge of the site and pushed it against the basalt cliff. That move compresses vehicle access into the least useful part of the section while freeing the sunnier side for outdoor living.

It also creates a clear trade-off: arrival becomes tighter and more dramatic against the rock face, but the house gains a far less compromised northern outdoor space.

Living with the cliff

The concrete structure does more than establish the architectural character. It also provides protection from the cliff face in the event of rockfall or seismic movement.

Rather than turning away from the rock, the house brings it close. Full-height glazing gives direct views back to the basalt, including from the stair where the cliff rises immediately beyond the glass.

A waterfall was designed to run over the projecting rock face, with subtle lighting bringing the stone into the house again at night.

Concrete, glass and treetop views

The material palette is deliberately limited to concrete and glass. Board-formed cast concrete gives the walls a rough surface, retaining the grain and joints of the timber formwork.

Sunlight moves across that texture throughout the day, changing the appearance of the façade and interior walls. Against it, floor-to-ceiling glazing reads as openings carved from a much heavier form.

The main living spaces occupy the upper level, lifting them above the tree canopy. From there, views extend down the valley across greater Christchurch and, in clear conditions, towards the Southern Alps.

Designed to last

The clients’ brief placed longevity ahead of short-term material efficiency. Concrete has a high embodied energy, but here it was chosen as part of a house intended to remain in use for generations rather than be treated as a short-life building.

High levels of insulation, airtight construction and concealed building systems support that long-term approach while keeping the interior expression pared back.

Valley House approached through mature trees, with its two-storey concrete form and open garage visible beyond the driveway.
Garden elevation of Valley House with board-marked concrete walls, large areas of glazing and lawn in the foreground.
Tall concrete end elevation of Valley House with a large upper window and the rocky, planted hillside behind.
Valley House living room with polished concrete floor, timber ceiling, suspended fireplace and full-height glazing into the trees.
Valley House kitchen and dining space with a long dark island, timber ceiling and glazing toward the surrounding trees.
Valley House staircase with open timber treads, dark steel and glass balustrades beside the raw concrete wall and rock face.
Valley House bedroom with a warm timber ceiling and full-height corner glazing looking directly into the surrounding trees.
Valley House bathroom lined in timber with a freestanding white bath, glass shower screen and dark fittings.
Cast concrete plaque at Valley House recording the house, architect, builder and 2018 construction date.
Brass toggle switches mounted directly onto the textured board-marked concrete wall at Valley House.
Valley House detail showing a brass kitchen tap and exterior wall light against dark surfaces and textured concrete.
Valley House library spaces with full-height timber shelving, a leather chair and a long corridor beside the bookshelves.
Valley House stair detail with open timber treads beside a concrete wall, paired with a garden sculpture among ferns.
Narrow passage at Valley House where the textured concrete wall runs closely beside the exposed natural rock face.
Aerial view of Valley House showing the rectangular roof, lawn and courtyard tucked between dense trees and the rock face.

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