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Living in a masterpiece: seven Roger Walker homes turning heads on Trade Me Property
Seven playful Roger Walker homes are on the market, from a glass-topped turret to a retro lifestyle block.
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A rare opportunity exists to own a piece of NZ's architectural history, with seven homes by celebrated architect Roger Walker currently for sale. Known for his playful "Noddy house" style, his designs feature signature towers, circular windows, and multi-level interiors.
The available properties range from city townhouses to country homesteads. These unique listings attract significant buyer interest, with their architectural provenance appealing to design enthusiasts who often act quickly to secure a home with a unique story.
From a glass-topped tower above New Plymouth to a homestead on the East Coast, some of the most playful homes in New Zealand are on the market right now. Here’s what makes a Roger Walker home so special, and why architectural provenance holds such strong appeal for buyers.
Most buyers start a property search with a familiar checklist: the right number of bedrooms, a sunny aspect, a handy location. Every so often, though, a listing comes along that offers something else entirely: the chance to own a piece of New Zealand’s architectural history.
Right now there are seven of them. Seven very different homes designed by Roger Walker are for sale, from Taranaki to Tairāwhiti, and they range from a city townhouse to a seven-hectare country homestead.
The architect: Roger Walker
Roger Walker is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated architects. He was born in Hamilton in 1942 and graduated in architecture from the University of Auckland in 1967. While studying he gained experience with some of the country’s best-known architects, including Sir Miles Warren and Sir Michael Fowler. He then moved to Wellington and set up his own practice in 1971.
Walker and his contemporary Ian Athfield broke away from the plain boxes of mid-century modernism and made something more personal, crafted and joyful. His early homes were affectionately nicknamed “Noddy houses”, and his signatures are instantly recognisable: circular windows and portholes, towers and turrets, steep pitched roofs, warm exposed timber, and multi-level interiors full of nooks and surprises. He has long championed the idea that architecture should bring people joy as well as comfort.
His public work includes Whakatāne Airport, Wellington’s Willis Street Village, Park Mews in Hataitai, and the Rainbow Springs complex in Rotorua. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to architecture. In 2016 he received the New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the highest individual honour an architect can receive in this country.
Seven Roger Walker homes on the market
The sky-high icon: 22 Scott Street, Moturoa, New Plymouth
4 bed | 3 bath | 934m² section | Enquiries over $1,350,000
HomesEstimate: $1.04M – $1.18M
Described as “world famous in New Plymouth”, this early-1970s home spreads over five levels and is topped by a glass turret with 360-degree views of Mount Taranaki, the port, the city and the coast.
On a clear day you can see Mount Ruapehu too. Since 2005, the owners have run it as a much-loved bed and breakfast, and it rose to number one on TripAdvisor. Inside there’s rich tawa timber and several living areas, with decks and balconies framing a different view from every level.
The riverside castle: 913 River Road, Queenwood, Hamilton
6+ bed | 3 bath | 4 living areas | 1,229m² section | Enquiries over $1,499,000
HomesEstimate: $1.49M – $1.61M
In Walker’s home town, this 1970s home beside Swarbrick Landing runs parallel to the Waikato River and looks across the water to St Andrews Golf Course. It measures roughly 400m² and includes an attached flat of around 90m².
It has a circular tower, dramatic glazing, timber-lined rooms and raked ceilings. With so much space it’s ideal for multi-generational living, guests, working from home or earning income from the flat.
The authentic original: 7 Coach Lane, Belmont, Lower Hutt
4 bed | 2 bath | 290m² floor | 3,536m² section | Enquiries over $1,150,000
HomesEstimate: $1.17M – $1.3M
This home has been lovingly kept in largely original condition, and it shows Walker at his most inventive. It has bold geometry, a playful cluster of rooflines, large round windows and portholes, and a rich palette of stone, timber and tile.
A beautifully crafted circular staircase leads up to a mezzanine, and round windows frame views of the harbour and the Hutt Valley. Outside there’s a pool, a pool house and established gardens, all just minutes from the Lower Hutt CBD.
The country retreat: 398 Horokiwi Road, Horokiwi, Wellington
4 bed | 2 bath | 180m² floor | 1.11ha | Price by negotiation
HomesEstimate: $1.1M – $1.27M
This extended Walker home sits on just over a hectare of “arboretum-like” gardens with two grazing paddocks, and the orchard includes figs, almonds, walnuts, quince and more.
The heart of the home is a bespoke rimu farmhouse kitchen with a walk-in pantry and a garden window facing Wellington Harbour. There’s also a book-lined living room with an open fire and a sun-drenched conservatory. The current owner has enjoyed it for 40 years.
The East Coast homestead: 292 Paroa Road, Tolaga Bay, Gisborne
3 bed | 1 bath | 7.24ha | Price by negotiation
HomesEstimate: $770K – $865K
This character homestead sits on an elevated, private site just 14km from the golden beaches of Tolaga Bay. It was positioned to make the most of light and sweeping rural views, and it’s among the first places in the country to see the sunrise.
Buyers have flexible options. They can take the full 7.2ha, including productive flat land currently used for lamb finishing, or buy the home on a smaller subdivided block.
The city townhouse: 5/80 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington
2 bed | 1 bath | 83m² floor | Enquiries over $745,000
HomesEstimate: $740K – $860K
This is one of just five exclusive Walker-designed townhouses set back from one of Thorndon’s most sought-after streets. End of terrace, the home boasts sunshine all day, all year round. It has classic timber finishes and spreads over two levels.
The living spaces flow out to a private courtyard garden, and there’s a garage. The government precinct, embassies, parks and some of Wellington’s best-known schools are all close by. It’s also the most-watchlisted of the seven homes.
The retro lifestyle block: 174A Loop Line, Masterton
3 bed | 1 bath | 198m² floor | 0.94ha | Deadline sale (closes 7 October, 2pm)
HomesEstimate: $725K – $845K
In the premier Ōpaki lifestyle area, this 1970s home celebrates “unexpected angles, playful geometries”. It has a classic conversation pit in front of an open fire. The home has been renovated for modern living, and part of the garage now works as a home office.
Outside there’s covered decking, a pool and a spa, and the land includes five paddocks, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and a hen house.
Does architectural provenance add value?
A home by a celebrated architect offers something a new build can’t replicate: authenticity, craftsmanship and a story. For the right buyer, those qualities are priceless.
Buyers are paying attention. Together, these seven listings have been viewed more than 52,000 times on Trade Me Property, and hundreds of people have added them to their watchlists. The Thorndon townhouse alone has passed 15,000 views, and the Masterton home attracted more than 100 watchlists in its first three days.
The right buyer moves quickly. Walker homes have a devoted following of design lovers, architects and people who have always dreamed of living in one. When a Walker-designed “castle” in Stokes Valley came to market in late 2024, it sold within days to the first people who viewed it. Earlier this year, a Walker “milk bottle” house in Silverstream sold above its price guide to an architect and his family, who were drawn specifically to its design.
Provenance adds to a home’s story. Location, land and livability matter to every buyer. A recognised architect’s name adds a layer of rarity and meaning on top of that. You can’t simply build another early-1970s Walker original.
If you’re looking for a home with personality, these Roger Walker homes are well worth a look. They’re a reminder that the places we live can be creative, inspiring and delightfully unconventional, and right now there’s a rare chance to own one.
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