Mt. Victoria House

NZIA Wellington Architecture Award, 2010

“This piece of work crosses the divide between architecture and crafted joinery…..It is a comfortable and well-loved addition to a family home”. NZIA Awards Jury, 2010.

An earlier renovation had added the upper level to this house at 88 Austin St and left it with relatively small and dark living areas, a closed-off kitchen and odd shaped decks at the rear. Together these elements made it difficult for the owners to enjoy a contemporary life-style.

The clients’ brief was to address these issues by opening up the living area and improving access to the garden. Existing windows in the side elevations were to be removed in order to gain more privacy from the neighbours and several new skylights were to be added to welcome the sunlight into the modernised living areas. While the traditional exterior of the house was to remain, our clients expected the refurbished interiors to have an “apartment-feel” and allowing an “open living style” with lots of natural light.

The new timber “bay window” addition, with its full height double glazed doors and windows, extends the living room and allows easy access to the new timber decks and wide steps leading down to the garden.

The renovation also allowed the existing house to be upgraded with double glazed windows and full insulation in the existing walls, floors and ceilings. The new ducted central heating system keeps the young family warm and cosy. The laundry, formerly downstairs, has been brought into the house and is now more conveniently located under the existing stairs in the refurbished bathroom.