Stickybeak of the Week: NZ Rebuild Brings the '90s Back to Life
After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, an architectural designer takes on a house built by his father
Sadly, six years after the devastating February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, many of the suburbs are still littered with damaged, unoccupied houses. Often times the owners have settled their insurance, but used the money to buy elsewhere rather than deal with the heartbreak of bringing their old house back up to standard.
But when Aaron Jones was invited by structural engineers Engco to find a way to save, and modernise, a house on the hills of Mount Pleasant, he was in. And, it turns out the house was built by his builder father, now retired, 22 years ago. The house was sold ‘as is, where is’, meaning buyers know that they are purchasing a damaged property. “I felt a responsibility to make it my home, to ensure a piece of my father’s built history was given another life,” Jones says.
But when Aaron Jones was invited by structural engineers Engco to find a way to save, and modernise, a house on the hills of Mount Pleasant, he was in. And, it turns out the house was built by his builder father, now retired, 22 years ago. The house was sold ‘as is, where is’, meaning buyers know that they are purchasing a damaged property. “I felt a responsibility to make it my home, to ensure a piece of my father’s built history was given another life,” Jones says.
The engineers exposed every main element of the structure to take a closer look at the steels, using radar examination where necessary. Helpfully, Jones didn’t have to look far for the original structural and architectural drawings: his dad already had them. “It was touch and go, but the investigations with clever structural engineers and geo-techs, was a team effort,” Jones says. The home’s stunning views made the earthquake re-strengthening to above-code standards financially sensible. They also beefed up insulation to above code, and added data wiring for modern tech.
Jones then had to renovate and modernise the 1990s design and rearrange the flow of rooms to suit contemporary living. It’s worth noting, however, that while ’90s design can be cleaned up smartly to 21st-century style, despite the enticing price of an ‘as is where is’ project, Jones warns would-be renovators to undertake thorough due diligence with qualified structural engineers.
Jones then had to renovate and modernise the 1990s design and rearrange the flow of rooms to suit contemporary living. It’s worth noting, however, that while ’90s design can be cleaned up smartly to 21st-century style, despite the enticing price of an ‘as is where is’ project, Jones warns would-be renovators to undertake thorough due diligence with qualified structural engineers.
Boxy bay windows smoothed into full-height square bays and modern, wide plank weatherboards immediately updated the exterior of the house.
The windows are all thermally broken (wherein a non-metallic resin or plastic material installed in the metallic window frame physically separates the interior part of the window from the exterior to reduce heat transfer), and, coupled with low-energy-use LED lighting, the home is now warm and cheap to run. While there is a wood burner, Jones says that on some winter nights it is not needed.
The windows are all thermally broken (wherein a non-metallic resin or plastic material installed in the metallic window frame physically separates the interior part of the window from the exterior to reduce heat transfer), and, coupled with low-energy-use LED lighting, the home is now warm and cheap to run. While there is a wood burner, Jones says that on some winter nights it is not needed.
Jones praises the work of H Griffen Builders, and says that his dad also had plenty of words of advice. “As we pulled off wall boards, we found old scribbles and notes and measurements behind them,” Jones says. “It was funny to find, and quite a nice connection. He had critical knowledge at some points too.”
Jones took the opportunity to re-organise the street-level entry where the corner of the house touched the driveway. He added a signature entry boardwalk, bringing some warm timber colours to the black and white scheme with a Vitex (New Guinea teak) soffit above the front door.
Jones took the opportunity to re-organise the street-level entry where the corner of the house touched the driveway. He added a signature entry boardwalk, bringing some warm timber colours to the black and white scheme with a Vitex (New Guinea teak) soffit above the front door.
The square bays now allow a stunning view of the city and sea beyond from all angles, views that were lost in the old design. The squared bays also add volume to the interior, and are a nice spot to sit with a glass of wine. Jones has also noticed they are favoured sunning spots for the couple’s cats.
The circular artwork was especially commissioned from artist Flox for the house, and features the couple’s favourite birds, including the extinct huia, tui, and kowhai flowers.
The circular artwork was especially commissioned from artist Flox for the house, and features the couple’s favourite birds, including the extinct huia, tui, and kowhai flowers.
A stud wall had separated the large formal living and dining room from a smaller kitchen and family room: the spaces had their backs to the view, and were more about watching the fire and television. Removing the wall and pushing out the windows now means every room has framed views of the Kaikoura Ranges. New oak flooring in a wide plank reflects the mid-century vibe that suits the couple’s taste.
Jones designed the kitchen cabinetry, using a birch ply core with high-pressure laminate in matt black for the cabinets and pure white for the island. A white acrylic benchtop and black tapware and sink continue the theme.
Jones integrated the double-door fridge-freezer, and added a pull-out freezer. But the bank of cupboards also hides a secret door to a multi-purpose library space behind the kitchen.
He designed the custom light fitting from powder-coated aluminium with an LED light strip.
He designed the custom light fitting from powder-coated aluminium with an LED light strip.
New Zealand artists’ work features through the house, including the David Trubridge pendant light.
Many of the works in the entry gallery are borrowed from friends and add vibrancy to the all-white walls. The passage leads to a landing off the powder room as well as storage areas.
Downstairs are three double bedrooms, a bathroom and a games room.
The lower rooms also benefited from the pushed out square bays, bringing close-up views of the garden and extra light into the room.
Jones paid attention to every detail, saying that he would spend hours every evening working on the design. In the powder room, he used a concrete-effect plaster, Multistop from Resene. He favours looks such as this clean-lined basin, that reflect his mid-century aesthetic.
Glass balustrades on the new decks (landscaping is still a work in progress) open the house to the views to the west.
“It was absolutely worth doing this rather than a re-build; I wouldn’t have taken it on otherwise,” Jones says. “I had a budget and was constantly working with suppliers to get it across the line. We came in under budget, and two weeks ahead of time.”
He says he will take on similar projects for clients, particularly ones who want to bring their house up to above code, but emphasises the importance of working with good consultants to do the due diligence, prior to purchase and during the build. This is to ensure the money is spent in the right places: architectural designer, structural engineer and geo-tech.
He says he will take on similar projects for clients, particularly ones who want to bring their house up to above code, but emphasises the importance of working with good consultants to do the due diligence, prior to purchase and during the build. This is to ensure the money is spent in the right places: architectural designer, structural engineer and geo-tech.
Who lives here: Aaron Jones and his partner, Cat
Location: Mount Pleasant, Christchurch, New Zealand
Size: 256 square metres; 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Project year: 2016
Architectural designer: Aaron Jones, Urban Function Architecture
According to Jones, the street this house sits on was one of the hardest hit in the earthquake. Two years ago, most of the houses had already been demolished. “It was a ghost town, there was only one person living there,” he says. “Some ‘as is, where is’ houses just aren’t viable, in fact this house had been priced and scheduled and was nearly demolished.”
Elsewhere in the city, Jones says that he’s seen some rebuilds that are just cosmetic, a potentially risky issue down the track. However, this project had over six months of intensive investigation by structural engineers, then was signed off by council rebuild, before stripping out began in late 2015 for a 2016 build completion. “This is an example of how to do it properly, to go above code and up the specifications. We had the position and the views so it was worth it,” he says.