Currently Viewing / 
Browse by topic
and/or by category
myTrends - your complete scrapbook of design ideas
|
Unveiling the past from Renovation Trends volume 2419
Perhaps it took an artist's eye to see why it would be a good idea for this colonial villa to face away from the street to capture the sun on north-facing verandas. Whatever the reason, it is unusual to find a turn-of-the-century villa designed with its back to the road.
But that was just one of the more unusual design elements of this house, which was originally owned by renowned New Zealand artist Charles Blomfield. Architect Tony Koia of Koia Architects says that while the house featured traditional Victorian fretwork and balustrades, the side facing the street was quite Georgian in character.
"The Georgian facade was something out of the ordinary for a house of this era," he says. "The house had also been added to over the years – a bay window was a relatively recent addition. But there was also an odd-looking carport at one side."
Koia says that while the house had many redeeming features, including well-proportioned, spacious rooms, it needed updating to better cater to modern living. There was also some decay beneath the house, and an uneven subfloor that needed to be repaired.
Creating a more dynamic entrance and greater street appeal was a priority, says the architect.
As the front door is slightly below the level of the road, Koia chose to position a new gate off to the side, rather than in a direct line with the door. This creates a more level entrance – through a new landscaped courtyard – and also means people can't see straight through the gate and open door.
"It was important to define this side of the house as the front, especially as the house opens out to the rear," says Koia. "The owners also wanted to enjoy the home's Georgian quality."
To this end, the architect created a new veranda at the front, with posts and fretwork that replicate the original detailing on the other side. This adjoins a new garage, built using weatherboards that have a similar profile to the original.
Major structural changes were also undertaken in other areas of the house. A lean-to behind the original carport was replaced with an extension, which incorporates a bay window that exactly matches the window on the opposite side of the house. Excavations beneath the house, which is on a sloping site, created enough space for a new basement. This accommodates a guest room and bathroom, as well as a second living area.
To provide a better connection between the house and the lawn and new pool area at the rear, the architect designed a terrace at mid-level between the veranda and lawn.
"The landscaping makes a more contemporary statement," says Koia. "People today are wanting to incorporate modern elements inside their homes. Extending this contemporary vocabulary to the outside works well when it respects the style of the house."
Koia says the interior of the existing house was in reasonable condition, and is notable for its distinctive panelling and decorative stair balustrades.
"There is historical documentation that shows the balustrading was hand carved by Blomfield."
But while the kauri floorboards, fireplaces and board-and-batten ceilings are also original, the architect specified contemporary light fixtures, including oversized halogens.
"We wanted to emphasise the fact that the house has had new life breathed into it," he says.
The kitchen, within the new extension, is also contemporary, but features painted cabinetry with panel doors that are a nod to the past. New skirting boards and cornices have a similar profile to the traditional detailing in other rooms. Extensive storage was provided along one wall, and appliances are integrated to maintain a clean look.
A house with two faces – although this 100-year-old villa features traditional colonial detailing, it also has a Georgian-style facade facing the street.
A new veranda at the front of the house mimics the style of the original. The renovation project also provided a new garage, basement rooms and a kitchen extension.
The bay window in the formal living room captures the afternoon sun.
The interior is notable for its panelling and stair balustrades, which were hand carved by renowned artist Charles Blomfield, the original owner of the house. The entire interior was painted white to give the house a fresh, modern look.
Jewel-toned furnishings contrast fresh white walls and kauri floorboards in the formal living room. The original fireplaces and board-and-batten timber ceilings were retained.
Similarly, the formal dining room was largely unaltered. All the rooms feature new halogen lighting, however.
Natural light floods the kitchen in the new extension. The white theme extends to the lacquered cabinets and reconstituted stone benchtops.
The bay window in the new kitchen replicates the existing bay window on the other side of the house. Here, it is positioned to provide a picturesque view of the large oak tree at the rear.
At the rear, the house opens up to a newly landscaped area. The pool incorporates a water feature that is a subtle reference to the Pink and White Terraces, which were painted by Charles Blomfield, the home's original owner.
Credit List
Architect
:
Tony Koia, Koia Architects (Auckland)
Paving
:
Sandstone from European Ceramics
Stone wall
:
John Cocker
Slot drain
:
All Proof
Pool contractor
:
Frontier Pools
Tiles
:
European Ceramics
Taps
:
Newform from Il Bagno
Story by Colleen Hawkes
Photography by Kallan McLeod
|
