The Stage and the Cave

Located in Ponsonby, Auckland, The Stage and the Cave is an award-winning heritage villa renovation that reimagines a traditional character home for contemporary living. Behind its carefully restored heritage façade, the house unfolds into a series of dramatic, light-filled spaces that celebrate entertaining, art and a seamless connection between indoors and out. The original villa has been respectfully restored, preserving its contribution to the streetscape while accommodating bedrooms and private family spaces. Beyond, a carefully choreographed transition leads through a gallery of more intimate "cave" spaces—including a media room, scullery and service areas—before opening into the expansive contemporary living pavilion, or "stage". This sequence creates a rich architectural experience, balancing compression and release, intimacy and openness. The heart of the home is a generous open-plan kitchen, dining and living space designed around the owners' love of entertaining and their extensive contemporary art collection. Walnut joinery, black granite, polished concrete floors and a timber acoustic ceiling create a rich, tactile interior that feels both sophisticated and welcoming. Large sliding glass walls dissolve the boundaries between architecture and landscape, connecting the living spaces to a series of north- and west-facing courtyards, outdoor fireplaces and a lap pool. Every square metre of the long, narrow site has been carefully considered to maximise sunlight, privacy and flexibility. Rather than turning away from neighbouring gardens, the design borrows views of mature trees and surrounding landscape, creating a sense of generosity and openness rarely found on an urban site. Carefully integrated outdoor rooms ensure the home functions equally well for intimate family life and large-scale entertaining throughout the year. The project has been recognised with a 2019 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Auckland Architecture Award for Alterations and Additions and a BEST Awards Silver Pin, acknowledging the exceptional quality of both its architecture and interior design. The Stage and the Cave demonstrates how a heritage villa can be transformed through thoughtful architecture, contemporary interiors and exceptional craftsmanship, creating a timeless family home where heritage and modern design exist in perfect balance.