Description:

The project involved alterations and additions to a Victorian villa in a Special Character Area, located in one of Auckland’s oldest neighbourhoods. The original house sits on a ridge with land dropping to the street on one side and with the rear garden falling away to the north on the other.
This presented an opportunity for a contemporary two storey addition, concealed from the street, that on the lower level connected the house to the garden, and upstairs allowed for a new “room in the roof” bedroom with outlook beyond the site.

Context and materiality were key informants for the design response. As the house transitions from old to new, it shifts in plan and section in response to both the topography and neighbouring buildings, creating different perspectives and opportunities for solar access and outlook.
A new ground floor kitchen / living space connects directly to the pool and garden, with a small outdoor dining and cooking area nestled against the boundary.
The response aims to dissolve the boundaries between inside and out to make the most of the compact site.
Threshold details and ceiling panelling that aligns with the soffits help to carry the eye out beyond the building line. The ceiling panels also provide acoustic attenuation to what might otherwise have been a lively space.
Colour and texture have been used with intention in order to create different moods within the home.
Muted, earthy shades draw on the characteristics of each room in the villa.

In the addition, brick and kauri, salvaged from the villa, have been used to line stairs and floors. This creates a connection with the old part of the home and imbues new spaces with a sense of warmth and familiarity. Dark stained cabinetry provides a grounding element in new light filled rooms.
In the bathrooms, colour and texture come together and deep, rich hues create an immersive environment that celebrates the ritualistic aspects of bathing.

Detailing in the home is purposefully quiet. This allows the materials to take centerstage and in the new addition helps to carry the eye out to the garden or view. There is a certain tactile-ness and familiarity to the materials that makes the spaces feel accessible. This very much a home to be lived in.