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Front to back from Renovation Trends volume 2807
New Zealand architects in the early 1900s knew a thing or two about street appeal. The traditional villas they designed had character in abundance, and often featured return verandas, intricate fretwork and bay windows.
Around the back it was another story, however, with pokey kitchens and a total absence of any kind of indoor-outdoor flow.
Architect Darren Jessop says the rear of this villa was typical of the genre – attractive at the front and a nightmare at the rear.
"The house did have many good features – it had plenty of character at the front, lovely windows and a wide hallway. But it needed to be restored to its former glory," Jessop says. "It was also not well suited to modern living. The service rooms were inadequate and the house was far too small for the new owners."
Extending the house at the rear was the logical option, and a way to gain extra space without compromising the architectural integrity.
In designing the addition, Jessop says he took his cue from the return veranda, replicating this form with a modern interpretation.
"The extension, which has nearly doubled the size of the house, features its own return veranda. It also has a similar gabled roofline, but the interior was given a much more contemporary treatment."
Jessop says there is a clear transition between the old and the new. The old part of the house, which accommodates the bedrooms, bathrooms and a den, still features its original detailing, including leadlight windows, ceiling roses and board-and-batten ceilings. But these rooms have been updated with more modern interiors and colours by designer Sonya Cotter.
Because the site has a slight gradient, the new kitchen and family living areas at the rear are a few steps lower.
"These steps mark the transition between old and new," says the architect. "But while the floor is lower, the ceiling height remains, which gives the whole space a very light, airy look. In this part of the house the ceiling also follows the roofline, with a glazed gable at one end."
Skylights above the kitchen ensure the area is flooded with natural light as well.
To maximise the sun from the north, Jessop created a semi-internal courtyard that can be accessed directly from the kitchen and family room.
"This outdoor room sits between the old and new parts of the house. It has a fireplace, barbecue facilities, outdoor heater and a LouvreTec roof so it is both sheltered and sunny as required."
The kitchen adds a touch of drama to the extension, with black lacquered wall cabinets contrasted by a white island, white lower cabinets and a marble splashback. To keep the look uncluttered, appliances are integrated where possible, and doors to the scullery and laundry are concealed within the cabinets. There is also a hidden wine cellar that is accessed through a trap door in the kitchen floor between the island and rear cabinets.
Different light pendants enliven the family living space – one features spun wood, the others are glass.
"The family entertain a lot, so we created a number of zones for the children and adults," says the architect. "There is always somewhere to go for a little peace and quiet."
To shield the sun and provide privacy from neighbouring properties, Jessop added sliding louvres.
The horizontal battens on the clerestory window in the gable are fixed, however.
Light is not compromised by the veranda. A 4m-long skylight in the roof of the veranda on the east side keeps the living room bright and airy.
A new poolscape was also included in the renovation, and a large lawn for the children. A mature tree with a swing was retained.
All the original character of this return-veranda villa remains. As part of a major renovation project, architect Darren Jessop reinstated the position of the front door, which had been moved off to one side.
A new garage was positioned near the road, replacing the existing car parking facilities at the rear of the house. The original shared driveway is now mainly used by the neighbouring property.
1 entry, 2 master suite, 3 bedrooms, 4 family bathroom, 5 den, 6 covered courtyard, 7 laundry, 8 scullery, 9 kitchen, 10 dining area, 11 living room.
The master bedroom occupies the front room with the bay window. Other traditional detailing includes the leadlight windows and decorative ceiling rose.
Although small, the master ensuite bathroom is well equipped with contemporary fixtures and fittings. The marble vanity top is the same material that is used in the kitchen, where it appears on the splashback. The large mirror, cantilevered vanity and open shelving increase the sense of space in the bathroom.
The original wide hallway remains a key feature of the house – its white walls serve as a gallery for the owners' art collection. An extra-wide opening was created for the den on the right. The timber slats on the left screen a staircase to a new attic room.
Interior designer Sonya Cotter chose a deep grey tone for the walls in the den. This room opens to the return veranda that wraps around the front of the house.
The addition accommodating the kitchen, dining and living area is three steps lower than the original part of the house. Skylights ensure natural light floods the kitchen work area. The island incorporates a cantilevered timber benchtop that helps to warm the room visually. Doors to the scullery and laundry are concealed within the black cabinets.
A fully lined basement wine cellar is accessed via an automated trap door in the floor of the kitchen.
The kitchen and living room open out to a sheltered, north-facing courtyard with a built-in concrete fireplace surround and barbecue facilities.
The addition also opens out to a modern return veranda.
Overhead louvres and an outdoor heater ensure the courtyard is sheltered and warm through all seasons.
Wide steps lead down to the lawn and new pool.
Credit List
Architect
:
Darren Jessop NZIA, Jessop Architects (Auckland)
Skylights
:
Velux
Tiles
:
European Ceramics
Living room lights
:
Katie Brown Glass
Kitchen appliances
:
De Dietrich
Vanity
:
Johannes Erren Cabinetmakers
Bathroom taps, basin and shower fittings
:
Robertson
Story by Colleen Hawkes
Photography by Jamie Cobeldick
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