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Downstairs, which is devoted to the kids’ living and bedroom zone, the garage was incorporated into the floorplan to become a flexible rumpus room. On the upstairs entry level, the inefficient planning was redefined: some walls were moved, others removed.
The redefined living space now captures a real lightness of being: there’s a white galley-style kitchen, blonded timber floors and new wraparound glass sliders and windows which allow ever-present views of the serene, green courtyard. Upstairs too a powder room was added while the master bedroom became a study with a built-in desk and enough shelving to appease the most voracious bookworm.
The biggest change to the property was the construction of a secluded master suite in the courtyard. Accessed via a glazed link, the smart, contemporary addition is clad in anthracite zinc, its charcoal-black tone a contrast to the fresh white interior. Modern in mood, it not only turns its back on the neighbours but tucks into the boundary out of the sightline of the main home to allow the owners absolute privacy.
As for the original home, now plastered and painted in neutral tones, this 50-something gal has achieved timeless street appeal.
Photographer
Emma-Jane Hetherington
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We're an architecture and design studio creating warm spaces for human connection. We believe architecture thrives on play and exploration, where clever solutions and clear dialogue create a dynamic interplay between all the elements of a project, bringing them all into balance.
Our directors, Tim Dorrington and Sam Atcheson, have spent over twenty years developing a design philosophy that's playful, balanced and inclusive. Clever solutions to interesting challenges are one of the hallmarks of our work, as is an eternally-youthful enthusiasm for creating truly transformative design. We like to think of it as delivering just enough surprise to truly delight our clients.
We're proud of the impact our team has made on the built environment of Aotearoa, with multiple NZIA Awards to our name and a roster of happy clients. We specialise in residential projects, but have also had success with retail and commercial environments.
Our approach is highly collaborative. While we often draw on the rich lineage of mid-century modernism, we're not design dictators. Every project is a response to site, budget and our clients dreams and objectives. It's an honest and open process, which reflects in the materiality of our buildings and the experience of the spaces we create.
Our design philosophy:
playful, human, balanced, clever, inclusive, transformative.
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