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Auckland Houzz: A Classic Villa With Add-Ons Sheds Its Ugly Past
A desire for more space, an indoor-outdoor connection and modern touches shaped this classic home's revival
From the front, this early 20th-century New Zealand property in Auckland’s harbourside town of Herne Bay presented as a quaint, if not a little run-down, weatherboard villa. But from the back it was another story, with a series of poorly conceived lean-tos from different periods cascading down the deck and the home’s sloping block, which confused the eye and provided little in the way of functional interior space.
After living here for several years, the family of four was ready to give the home an upgrade. They wanted to restore the charm of the older part of the house, remove the add-ons and create a modern extension with a new kitchen, living and dining spaces and main bedroom. Enter Gerrad Hall, architect and principal at Gerrad Hall Architects, who was tasked with bringing their vision to life. Here, Hall reveals exactly how he went about it.
After living here for several years, the family of four was ready to give the home an upgrade. They wanted to restore the charm of the older part of the house, remove the add-ons and create a modern extension with a new kitchen, living and dining spaces and main bedroom. Enter Gerrad Hall, architect and principal at Gerrad Hall Architects, who was tasked with bringing their vision to life. Here, Hall reveals exactly how he went about it.
The facade before works.
“The owners had lived in this unrenovated house for several years after returning from London, and it was due for a major renovation and renewal,” says Hall.
Top of their wish list were more living space, a new pool and to create an easy connection with the garden.
Dreaming of more space? Discuss your extension plans with an architect near you on Houzz
“The owners had lived in this unrenovated house for several years after returning from London, and it was due for a major renovation and renewal,” says Hall.
Top of their wish list were more living space, a new pool and to create an easy connection with the garden.
Dreaming of more space? Discuss your extension plans with an architect near you on Houzz
The facade after works. Weatherboards painted in Cloud: Resene; detailing painted in Double Black White: Resene.
“The house is in a special conservation zone and the design required much discussion with council. Our approach, which council eventually accepted, was to faithfully restore the remaining main volume of the original villa, which included rebuilding the bay window and the full-return veranda,” says Hall.
“The house is in a special conservation zone and the design required much discussion with council. Our approach, which council eventually accepted, was to faithfully restore the remaining main volume of the original villa, which included rebuilding the bay window and the full-return veranda,” says Hall.
The rear before works.
A shambolic series of lean-tos at the back of the house were replaced with a sleek, two-storey extension in concrete and timber housing a kitchen, family room, dining and living areas, and a deck on the ground floor. On the floor above is a new, fully appointed parent’s retreat, complete with a walk-through wardrobe and ensuite.
A shambolic series of lean-tos at the back of the house were replaced with a sleek, two-storey extension in concrete and timber housing a kitchen, family room, dining and living areas, and a deck on the ground floor. On the floor above is a new, fully appointed parent’s retreat, complete with a walk-through wardrobe and ensuite.
The rear before works.
“We set all the new roof lines below the villa eaves and went for an approach that set a highly textured/louvred, painted box – the new addition – on concrete foundations,” says Hall.
Using similar textures, tones and materials throughout the old and new parts of the house visually connected the two areas, while the differing forms create an intriguing contrast as you travel through the house.
“We set all the new roof lines below the villa eaves and went for an approach that set a highly textured/louvred, painted box – the new addition – on concrete foundations,” says Hall.
Using similar textures, tones and materials throughout the old and new parts of the house visually connected the two areas, while the differing forms create an intriguing contrast as you travel through the house.
Ground-floor plan after works.
First-floor plan after works.
“When it came to the budget, the concrete elements and the large, double-glazed timber windows were the big-ticket items,” says Hall.
The plaster system used inside and out and the high level of detailing throughout the house also took up a significant portion of the renovation budget.
“When it came to the budget, the concrete elements and the large, double-glazed timber windows were the big-ticket items,” says Hall.
The plaster system used inside and out and the high level of detailing throughout the house also took up a significant portion of the renovation budget.
All interior walls painted in White Pointer: Resene.
The architect created a semi-enclosed, grass courtyard by extending a wing of the new extension into the garden.
“The randomised, vertical cladding on the upper floor of the ‘box’ at the back incorporates privacy louvres for the main bedroom,” says Hall.
The new design means the lawn and pool area flow seamlessly into the kitchen, family areas and outdoor patio.
“Double-glazed timber sliding doors, which integrate the indoor and outdoor areas, match the timber joinery in the original villa,” he says.
The new design means the lawn and pool area flow seamlessly into the kitchen, family areas and outdoor patio.
“Double-glazed timber sliding doors, which integrate the indoor and outdoor areas, match the timber joinery in the original villa,” he says.
Fireplace: Living Flame Fires; spotlights: Kreon.
The client sought a sunken lounge with a cocooning, cave-feel where they could relax, which also contrasted with the double-height void in the kitchen.
The client sought a sunken lounge with a cocooning, cave-feel where they could relax, which also contrasted with the double-height void in the kitchen.
Cast concrete ceilings and plastered concrete walls in the new addition create a sense of solidity and cosiness, while delivering the contemporary aesthetic the owners were after.
Having the double-height ceiling in the kitchen and dining areas eases the transition between the original part of the house, which is at the top of the sloping block, with the new addition below it.
With no curtains, lots of hard surfaces and a soaring ceiling, noisy echoing could have been an issue in this space. To prevent this, the architect installed plywood acoustic panelling above the kitchen joinery.
With no curtains, lots of hard surfaces and a soaring ceiling, noisy echoing could have been an issue in this space. To prevent this, the architect installed plywood acoustic panelling above the kitchen joinery.
Benchtop: Artedomus; Tom Dixon pendants: ECC Lighting; ovens: Gaggenau; custom-stained oak floor; marble splashback; stainless steel rear benchtops.
A beautifully designed, open-plan kitchen now forms the central hub of the family home. A concrete island with generous benchtop space provides ample room for casual meals, catch-ups or for the kids to do their homework while the parents cook.
A beautifully designed, open-plan kitchen now forms the central hub of the family home. A concrete island with generous benchtop space provides ample room for casual meals, catch-ups or for the kids to do their homework while the parents cook.
The home’s minimalist furnishings put a focus on the exceptional level of detailing. The full-height, raw steel stair balustrade is a great example; it adds visual interest to an otherwise practical feature, and provides a sense of reveal as you walk down the stairs from the old part of the house and into the modern addition.
The original bath was resurfaced; basin: Duravit.
A small room in the original part of the house was converted into a new family bathroom, replacing a tiny bathroom in one of the home’s many lean-tos. The owners chose traditional-style fixtures and fittings that were in keeping with the heritage portion of the house.
A small room in the original part of the house was converted into a new family bathroom, replacing a tiny bathroom in one of the home’s many lean-tos. The owners chose traditional-style fixtures and fittings that were in keeping with the heritage portion of the house.
Your turn
Which feature impresses you most in this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want to see another house full or surprises? Don’t miss this Melbourne Houzz: A One-of-a-Kind Home for a Family of Seven
Which feature impresses you most in this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want to see another house full or surprises? Don’t miss this Melbourne Houzz: A One-of-a-Kind Home for a Family of Seven
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Herne Bay, NZ
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Size of the house before works: 180 square metres
Size of the house after works: 280 square metres
Architect: Gerrad Hall Architects
Interior design: Yvette Jay Interior Design
Builder: Sam Wood
“They are a busy family of four with two active young kids – creating a decent lawn area for the children was a priority, as was allowing some separation between the kids’ and adults’ bedrooms,” says Hall of his client. “The living areas needed to connect with the outdoors, and there was a desire to contrast the timber upper-floor elements with a cave-like concrete living room set down from the lawn and patio level.”