diff --git a/apps/vela-ui/README.md b/apps/vela-ui/README.md
index f8d47f5..0240b1a 100644
--- a/apps/vela-ui/README.md
+++ b/apps/vela-ui/README.md
@@ -5,5 +5,6 @@ This workspace contains the Vela browser UI as a minimal SvelteKit app.
 Current status:
 
 - SvelteKit app boots in the Yarn workspace
-- root page shows the initial Vela UI starter screen
-- PWA features and voice interaction flows remain future increments
+- root page shows a minimal voice-session shell with connect/disconnect controls
+- the shell can connect to the gateway `/ws` endpoint and display developer-visible session status
+- microphone capture, transcript rendering, and audio playback remain future increments
diff --git a/apps/vela-ui/src/routes/+page.svelte b/apps/vela-ui/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 7a6f7af..fb8156c 100644
--- a/apps/vela-ui/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/apps/vela-ui/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -2,43 +2,262 @@
 	<title>Vela UI</title>
 	<meta
 		name="description"
-		content="Minimal starter UI for the Vela voice assistant."
+		content="Minimal voice-session shell for the Vela voice assistant."
 	/>
 </svelte:head>
 
 <script>
+	import { onDestroy } from 'svelte';
 	import {
 		CLIENT_EVENT_TYPES,
 		PROTOCOL_PACKAGE_NAME,
-		SERVER_EVENT_TYPES
+		SERVER_EVENT_TYPES,
+		SESSION_STATES,
+		isMessageEnvelope,
+		isServerEventType
 	} from '@vela/protocol';
 
-	const appStatus = 'Bootstrapped';
-	const nextFocus = `Build the voice session shell on top of ${PROTOCOL_PACKAGE_NAME}.`;
+	const DEFAULT_GATEWAY_PORT = '3001';
+	const FALLBACK_GATEWAY_URL = `ws://localhost:${DEFAULT_GATEWAY_PORT}/ws`;
+	const configuredGatewayUrl = import.meta.env.VITE_VELA_GATEWAY_WS_URL;
+
+	function resolveGatewayWebSocketUrl() {
+		if (configuredGatewayUrl) {
+			return configuredGatewayUrl;
+		}
+
+		if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+			return FALLBACK_GATEWAY_URL;
+		}
+
+		const protocol = window.location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
+		const isLocalhost = ['localhost', '127.0.0.1'].includes(window.location.hostname);
+
+		if (isLocalhost && window.location.port !== DEFAULT_GATEWAY_PORT) {
+			return `${protocol}//${window.location.hostname}:${DEFAULT_GATEWAY_PORT}/ws`;
+		}
+
+		return `${protocol}//${window.location.host}/ws`;
+	}
+
+	function formatCloseReason(event) {
+		const reason = event.reason ? ` (${event.reason})` : '';
+		return `code ${event.code}, clean ${event.wasClean ? 'yes' : 'no'}${reason}`;
+	}
+
+	let gatewayWebSocketUrl = resolveGatewayWebSocketUrl();
+	let connectionState = 'not connected';
+	let connectionDetail = 'Socket is idle.';
+	let gatewaySessionState = 'not received';
+	let sessionId = 'not assigned';
+	let lastServerEvent = 'none';
+	let lastError = 'none';
+	let lastClose = 'not closed';
+	let socket = null;
+	let connectionAttempts = 0;
+
+	function clearSocketHandlers(targetSocket) {
+		targetSocket.onopen = null;
+		targetSocket.onmessage = null;
+		targetSocket.onerror = null;
+		targetSocket.onclose = null;
+	}
+
+	function resetSessionStatus() {
+		gatewaySessionState = 'not received';
+		sessionId = 'not assigned';
+		lastServerEvent = 'none';
+	}
+
+	function connect() {
+		if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (socket && (connectionState === 'connecting' || connectionState === 'connected')) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		gatewayWebSocketUrl = resolveGatewayWebSocketUrl();
+		resetSessionStatus();
+		lastError = 'none';
+		lastClose = 'not closed';
+		connectionState = 'connecting';
+		connectionDetail = 'Opening WebSocket connection to gateway.';
+		connectionAttempts += 1;
+
+		const nextSocket = new WebSocket(gatewayWebSocketUrl);
+		socket = nextSocket;
+
+		nextSocket.onopen = () => {
+			if (socket !== nextSocket) {
+				return;
+			}
+
+			connectionState = 'connected';
+			connectionDetail = 'Gateway WebSocket is open.';
+		};
+
+		nextSocket.onmessage = ({ data }) => {
+			if (socket !== nextSocket || typeof data !== 'string') {
+				return;
+			}
+
+			let message;
+
+			try {
+				message = JSON.parse(data);
+			} catch {
+				connectionState = 'error';
+				connectionDetail = 'Received non-JSON message from gateway.';
+				lastError = 'invalid server message: JSON parse failed';
+				return;
+			}
+
+			if (!isMessageEnvelope(message) || !isServerEventType(message.type)) {
+				connectionState = 'error';
+				connectionDetail = 'Received unsupported message from gateway.';
+				lastError = 'invalid server message: envelope or event type mismatch';
+				return;
+			}
+
+			lastServerEvent = message.type;
+
+			if (message.type === 'session.ready') {
+				sessionId = message.payload.sessionId;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			if (message.type === 'session.state') {
+				gatewaySessionState = message.payload.value;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			if (message.type === 'error') {
+				connectionState = 'error';
+				connectionDetail = 'Gateway reported a protocol error.';
+				lastError = `${message.payload.code}: ${message.payload.message}`;
+			}
+		};
+
+		nextSocket.onerror = () => {
+			if (socket !== nextSocket) {
+				return;
+			}
+
+			connectionState = 'error';
+			connectionDetail = 'Browser reported a WebSocket error.';
+			lastError = 'browser websocket error';
+		};
+
+		nextSocket.onclose = (event) => {
+			if (socket !== nextSocket) {
+				return;
+			}
+
+			lastClose = formatCloseReason(event);
+			connectionState = connectionState === 'error' ? 'error' : 'disconnected';
+			connectionDetail = connectionState === 'error'
+				? 'Socket closed after an error.'
+				: 'Gateway WebSocket is closed.';
+			clearSocketHandlers(nextSocket);
+			socket = null;
+		};
+	}
+
+	function disconnect() {
+		if (!socket) {
+			connectionState = 'disconnected';
+			connectionDetail = 'No active socket to close.';
+			return;
+		}
+
+		connectionDetail = 'Closing WebSocket connection.';
+		if (socket.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN || socket.readyState === WebSocket.CONNECTING) {
+			socket.close(1000, 'client disconnect');
+		}
+	}
+
+	onDestroy(() => {
+		if (!socket) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		const activeSocket = socket;
+		clearSocketHandlers(activeSocket);
+		socket = null;
+
+		if (activeSocket.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN || activeSocket.readyState === WebSocket.CONNECTING) {
+			activeSocket.close(1000, 'page dispose');
+		}
+	});
 </script>
 
 <div class="page">
 	<section class="card">
 		<p class="eyebrow">Vela UI</p>
-		<h1>Minimal SvelteKit starter</h1>
+		<h1>Voice session shell</h1>
 		<p>
-			This workspace now runs as the browser shell for Vela. The voice controls, transcript, and
-			streaming session UI will be added in later increments.
+			This minimal browser shell can connect to the gateway WebSocket and expose developer-visible
+			session status. Microphone capture, transcript rendering, and audio playback remain future
+			increments.
 		</p>
 
 		<p class="contract-note">
 			Shared protocol package loaded with {CLIENT_EVENT_TYPES.length} client event types and
-			{SERVER_EVENT_TYPES.length} server event types.
+			{SERVER_EVENT_TYPES.length} server event types across {SESSION_STATES.length} gateway session
+			states.
 		</p>
 
+		<div class="controls">
+			<button on:click={connect} disabled={connectionState === 'connecting' || connectionState === 'connected'}>
+				Connect
+			</button>
+			<button on:click={disconnect} disabled={!socket && connectionState !== 'connected' && connectionState !== 'connecting'}>
+				Disconnect
+			</button>
+		</div>
+
 		<div class="meta">
 			<div>
-				<span>Status</span>
-				<strong>{appStatus}</strong>
+				<span>UI connection state</span>
+				<strong>{connectionState}</strong>
 			</div>
 			<div>
-				<span>Next</span>
-				<strong>{nextFocus}</strong>
+				<span>Connection detail</span>
+				<strong>{connectionDetail}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Gateway WebSocket URL</span>
+				<strong>{gatewayWebSocketUrl}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Session ID</span>
+				<strong>{sessionId}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Gateway session state</span>
+				<strong>{gatewaySessionState}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Last server event</span>
+				<strong>{lastServerEvent}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Last error</span>
+				<strong>{lastError}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Last close</span>
+				<strong>{lastClose}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Connection attempts</span>
+				<strong>{connectionAttempts}</strong>
+			</div>
+			<div>
+				<span>Protocol package</span>
+				<strong>{PROTOCOL_PACKAGE_NAME}</strong>
 			</div>
 		</div>
 	</section>
@@ -91,9 +310,32 @@
 		margin-top: 1rem;
 	}
 
+	.controls {
+		margin-top: 1.5rem;
+		display: flex;
+		gap: 0.75rem;
+		flex-wrap: wrap;
+	}
+
+	button {
+		padding: 0.8rem 1.1rem;
+		border: 1px solid #2b4a6b;
+		border-radius: 0.75rem;
+		background: #12233a;
+		color: #e6eef8;
+		font: inherit;
+		cursor: pointer;
+	}
+
+	button:disabled {
+		opacity: 0.55;
+		cursor: not-allowed;
+	}
+
 	.meta {
 		margin-top: 1.5rem;
 		display: grid;
+		grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(14rem, 1fr));
 		gap: 1rem;
 	}
 
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index f612609..6660e46 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -36,18 +36,35 @@ The repository now includes separate runnable workspaces for the UI and gateway
 - PWA enabled
 - WebSocket client
 
-The current implementation is a minimal SvelteKit app with a single starter page. PWA behavior, microphone capture, and the WebSocket client are later increments.
+The current implementation is a minimal SvelteKit app with a single voice-session shell page. The shipped UI can open and close a browser WebSocket connection to the gateway `/ws` endpoint, show explicit connection status (`not connected`, `connecting`, `connected`, `disconnected`, `error`), and surface session metadata for developers. Microphone capture, transcript rendering, interrupt controls, streamed assistant response display, and audio playback are not part of the current shell and remain future work.
 
 #### Responsibilities
 
+Current shell responsibilities:
+
+- connection state rendering
+- developer-oriented session metadata rendering
+- browser session connect/disconnect controls
+
+Future UI responsibilities:
+
 - audio capture from microphone
 - audio playback for TTS
-- UI state rendering
-- session management
+- broader voice-session UI state rendering
 - interrupt handling
 
 #### Main Screen
 
+Current shell:
+
+- developer-focused voice-session panel
+- connect button
+- disconnect button
+- connection status indicator
+- session metadata display
+
+Future interactive voice screen:
+
 - large mic button
 - live transcript
 - streamed assistant response text
@@ -85,6 +102,14 @@ The current implementation is a minimal Fastify service with `/`, `/health`, and
 - valid minimal client events can move the session between `idle` and `listening`
 - invalid JSON, invalid envelopes, and malformed frames are handled defensively so the process stays up
 
+### Current UI shell behavior
+
+- renders a minimal developer-focused voice-session panel
+- exposes connect and disconnect controls only
+- does not request microphone permission
+- does not send or process audio data
+- reads `session.ready`, `session.state`, and `error` messages from the shared protocol contract
+
 ## Voice Pipeline
 
 ```text
diff --git a/docs/backlog.md b/docs/backlog.md
index f2282c3..638d83b 100644
--- a/docs/backlog.md
+++ b/docs/backlog.md
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ Prove the end-to-end interaction model with mocked or stubbed providers.
 
 - [x] bootstrap `vela-ui` as a runnable SvelteKit app in the Yarn workspace
 - [x] bootstrap `vela-gateway` as a runnable Fastify app in the Yarn workspace
-- create a minimal UI with mic control, state indicator, transcript, and response text
+- [x] add the first UI voice-session shell with connect/disconnect controls and explicit WebSocket status
+- create a minimal UI with mic control, transcript, and response text
 - [x] create a gateway WebSocket session skeleton
 - implement mocked STT flow for partial and final transcript events
 - implement mocked LLM response streaming
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ Polish the system after the core voice loop is reliable.
 ## Current Progress Notes
 
 - `apps/vela-ui` now boots as a minimal SvelteKit app with a starter page
+- `apps/vela-ui` now includes a minimal voice-session shell that can connect to the gateway `/ws` endpoint and display developer-visible session status
 - `apps/vela-gateway` now boots as a minimal Fastify app with `/` and `/health` endpoints
 - `apps/vela-gateway` now exposes a minimal `/ws` WebSocket session skeleton with ephemeral in-memory sessions and defensive message handling
 - `apps/vela-protocol` now provides the shared WebSocket event contract for the UI and gateway
diff --git a/docs/integrations.md b/docs/integrations.md
index c092447..571f025 100644
--- a/docs/integrations.md
+++ b/docs/integrations.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 - `vela-ui` is implemented as a SvelteKit application
 - `vela-gateway` is implemented as a Fastify service
 - `vela-gateway` now exposes `/ws` as the minimal WebSocket session entrypoint using the shared `@vela/protocol` contract
+- `vela-ui` now opens a minimal browser WebSocket client against that `/ws` entrypoint and surfaces connection/session status for developers
 - current integration work beyond the gateway WebSocket/session baseline remains future implementation
 
 ## Gateway Session Contract
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@
 - message format: `@vela/protocol` `MessageEnvelope<{ type, payload }>`
 - current server behavior: acknowledge connect with `session.ready` and `session.state`
 - safety baseline: invalid JSON, invalid envelopes, and malformed frames return protocol errors or close that socket without taking down the service
+- current UI behavior: connect/disconnect only, no microphone access, no audio payloads, and safe error-state handling for `open`/`error`/`close`
 
 ## STT (Speech-to-Text)
 
diff --git a/docs/protocol.md b/docs/protocol.md
index fa2f346..f0a8e31 100644
--- a/docs/protocol.md
+++ b/docs/protocol.md
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ Current gateway baseline:
 - the gateway sends `session.ready` and `session.state` immediately after a successful socket upgrade
 - the gateway accepts JSON text messages only in the shared envelope shape
 
+Current UI baseline:
+
+- the browser opens a WebSocket directly to `/ws`
+- the UI tracks connection status separately from gateway session status
+- the UI currently consumes server events but does not send `session.start` or any audio events yet
+
 ## WebSocket Message Envelope
 
 Every WebSocket message uses one envelope format:
@@ -57,6 +63,24 @@ type ClientEvent =
 - invalid envelopes or unsupported client event names produce `error` with code `invalid_message`
 - malformed WebSocket frames are rejected without crashing the gateway process
 
+### UI connection shell behavior
+
+The UI currently exposes a small browser-side connection state machine for the WebSocket transport:
+
+```text
+not connected
+ → connecting
+ → connected
+ → disconnected
+ → error
+```
+
+Notes:
+
+- this UI state is transport-oriented and is separate from the shared gateway `session.state` payload
+- `session.state` currently reflects the gateway session phase (`idle`, `listening`, `thinking`, `speaking`)
+- the UI treats malformed server messages, browser WebSocket errors, and gateway `error` events as safe error states instead of throwing
+
 ### Server → Client
 
 ```ts
diff --git a/docs/setup.md b/docs/setup.md
index dfe2b6f..ca97522 100644
--- a/docs/setup.md
+++ b/docs/setup.md
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ mise exec -- yarn build:gateway
 ## Notes
 
 - the concrete framework choices are now SvelteKit for `vela-ui` and Fastify for `vela-gateway`
-- the UI is intentionally minimal and does not yet include mic capture, transcript rendering, or WebSocket session state
-- the gateway is intentionally minimal and does not yet expose the planned WebSocket contract
+- the UI is intentionally minimal and currently includes only a developer-facing WebSocket voice-session shell
+- the UI does not yet include mic capture, transcript rendering, assistant response rendering, or audio playback
+- the gateway now exposes the minimal shared-protocol `/ws` WebSocket contract used by that shell
 - if your shell is configured for mise activation, plain `yarn` commands can be used after `mise install`
 - update this document when the repo layout or package manager workflow changes