Nakari Vista was the previous home of the former deputy prime minister, Jim Cairns. Informed by his humanist approach, the design re-uses the bones of the existing home but reconfigures rooms to bring it into the contemporary era. The new additions included a whole new angled roof to bring light deep into the home, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and an outdoor alfresco pavilion.

Significantly, the end result has a vastly improved spatial flow and zoning further enhanced by placing the hearth at the literal heart of the home.

Photography by Peter Bennetts.