Modestly Remodelled Traditional Villa by Architecture Smith + Scully

ArchiPro Project Summary - A thoughtfully remodeled traditional villa in Auckland, enhancing comfort and functionality for a downsizing couple while preserving its classic charm and accommodating family visits.

Title:: Modestly Remodelled Traditional Villa
Architect:: Architecture Smith + Scully
Category:: Residential/; Renovations and Extensions
Completed:: 2022
Building style:: Classic
Photographers:: Sam Harnett

Traditional Villa modestly remodelled to enhance our Client's lifestyle changes.

Having purchased a dated Traditional Villa within Auckland's Special Character Heritage zone, our clients were also downsizing. They wanted to update and futureproof their new home, for their upcoming retirement stage of life.

With the convenience of one level, and a glorious private north facing garden, the brief was to provide comfortable living areas indoor and out, which worked well for just the the two of them, but easily accommodated family and grandchildren when they arrived – and stayed.

We set about tastefully remodelling alterating existing rooms and reorganization of spaces incorporating an additional bathroom, cosy reading and garden viewing nooks, large country kitchen, storage, and a separate cottage in the garden were accommodated.

Extensive navigation of the councils zoning requirements: Heritage – Special Character, Overland Flow path, Flood Plain was also undertaken.

Internally spaces were repositioned to enhance our client’s lifestyle and provide extra seating / resting areas in the sun during the day. New tall window and door joinery to the reworked outdoor room not only retains the elegance of the traditional villa, but offers the benefits of more light, sun and comfort with double glazing.

The garden cottage, guest studio with bathroom, has been very popular with family visiting, separate but close.

Project Gallery

Deck - new joinery, ceiling with skylights, privacy wall

Client comments

We met Hilary through our builder Chris Martin who we had engaged to renovate a 1910 villa in Mt Eden. The villa is in a heritage zone and is a return verandah style. The prior modernising not of good quality and had not been well thought out.

Chris Martin wisely advised us to engage Hilary for an initial discussion and ideas.

What a find Hilary has been! The initial outlines for alterations from Hilary were simple, clever, smart, brilliant in fact! - can’t put my finger on the right words. We were very impressed and hired Hilary for the detailed drawings and got on in with the job. Hilary was particular to point us to experts along the way for engineering, RMA expertise, et al.

So with Hilary directing design, Chris organising the build, we have ended up with a great result - a fully renovated villa with the right blend of modern living and the warmth of the villa style taking full advantage of light, aspect and street appeal.

Hilary was wonderful to deal with – always listened, always sympathetic to our requests and mindful of our fear of cost overrun!, always available and, efficient.