Auckland Houzz: A Multi-Generational Home on a Tight Block

Images by Jessica Chloe Photography. Answers by Kate Beilby, architect and director at Milieu Architecture + Design.

House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their dog live in the main house, and one set of the couple’s parents live part of the year in the separate apartment connected to the main house
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Three bedrooms and two bathrooms in the main house; one bedroom and one bathroom in the apartment
House size: The main house measures 140 square metres and the apartment measures 50 square metres
Architect: Kate Beilby, architect and director at Milieu Architecture + Design
Interior designer: Mary-Ellen Hinton at Hello Saturday Design
Builder: Qualified Building Solutions
Kitchen cabinetry: Kitchen Link

“After reading client reviews on Houzz, our client initially approached us to do a renovation of their existing home. However, not long after this a section became available in their neighbourhood and we turned our attention to a new build,” says Beilby.

Situated on a rare subdivided block in an area of predominantly interwar period bungalows with tight heritage restrictions, the new home also needed to get the tick of approval from council that it would blend sympathetically with the existing streetscape.

Looking to build? Find an architect near you on Houzz who has experience working with your local council

Ground-floor plan.

The couple sought a stylish, low-maintenance and contemporary home for their compact suburban block that would accommodate themselves and their much-loved dog in the main house, with a separate dwelling for one set of their parents.

“They wanted to maximise potential views to Mount Albert and the Waitakere Ranges and incorporate full-height glazing and high stud ceilings to maximise the sense of space and connection to the garden,” says Beilby. “Privacy from the neighbours was also a must, along with privacy between the two generations living in the house.”

First-floor plan.

“In terms of spatial requirements, the main house needed to have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study and a gym, along with an open-plan kitchen/living/dining space. The apartment was to have one bedroom, one bathroom, plus a small kitchen, dining and living space,” she says.

Beilby’s solution involved separate, overlapping volumes: a kitchen/living/dining space downstairs where everyone can congregate, a bedroom suite for the homeowners above the garage, and a parent’s home encased in a single-storey brick form at the front of the site.

“The main house and the separate apartment were designed so they could function separately,” she says. “They have distinct entries, and the apartment has its own kitchen, laundry and a private garden. The idea was that the parents could live in the apartment, but it would also provide the opportunity to be rented out, so privacy between the two was imperative.”

Ivory Oak Shinnoki veneer: VidaSpace; joinery top in Airy Concrete: Caesarstone; Ollo Seven Cluster pendants: Soktas.

Beilby designed the kitchen/living/dining area at the rear of the main house so it could be opened to the outdoor living space in the warmer months and closed to create a cosy retreat in winter.

“The full-height sliding doors define the dining space and fully open up to the deck. The living area is adjacent to it, but it’s more of an enclosed space for relaxing and watching television.

“The joinery is a continuation of the timber-lined wall that starts at the entry, runs along the stair and wraps into the living area. For the low storage unit, we used the same Caesarstone Airy Concrete top as in the kitchen to create a sense of cohesion between the spaces,” she says.

“Working in a heritage area meant we needed a design that was sensitive to the locale, but also reflected our client’s modern tastes.

“For the exterior, we chose a material palette of aged red brick [which was carried through inside], paired with painted white timber weatherboards and profiled metal to reflect the predominant materials used in the local area.

“The timber is used horizontally on the lower level and vertically on the upper level for a modern twist. The asymmetrical gable of the upper level is a play on the traditional hipped and gabled rooflines seen locally,” says Beilby.

“Our client sought a modern, open-plan kitchen located to make the most of the morning sun,” she says of the cooking area in the main house. “They wanted the kitchen to be a social space, with a wine fridge and island seating.”

Curved upper cabinetry, which conceals the range hood and storage, adds softness to the main kitchen and echoes the curved shape of the planters at the front of the house.

Browse more images of kitchens featuring green

Axle sofas: Kovacs.

“Designing a home for multiple generations of one family was a unique experience, but one that I think will become more common as Auckland densifies,” says Beilby.

The client was open to creative suggestions throughout the design process, says Beilby. “Their one request was for a place to display their Lego – seen here,” she says.

Brera Grassloth Chinon wallpaper: Designers Guild; pendant lights: ECC.

Layers of rich navy in the textured wallpaper and bedding create a cosy and dramatic feel in the main bedroom. “The client wanted this spot to be soft, comfortable and relaxed – a true retreat,” says Beilby.

Pictured here, the 50-square-metre apartment for the client’s parents cleverly incorporates a bedroom, bathroom, living/dining space, an integrated laundry, plus an outdoor area and a private entrance.