The brief for Shift House was to transform a Victorian villa located in a Special Character Area in one of Auckland’s oldest neighbourhoods into a family home that acknowledges the heritage of the original house, whilst delivering spaces with an overarching sense of ease that support contemporary day to day living.

Context and materiality were key informants for the design response. The  original house sits on a ridge with land dropping to the street on one side and with the rear garden falling away to the north on the other. This presented an opportunity for a modern two storey addition, concealed from the street,  that on the lower level connected the house to the garden, and upstairs allowed for a new “room in the roof” bedroom with outlook beyond the site.

As the house transitions from old to new, it shifts in plan and section in response to both the topography and neighbouring buildings, creating different perspectives and opportunities for solar access and outlook.

Inside, brick and kauri, salvaged from the original home, have been used to line interiors and create built-in furniture. This creates a connection with the villa and imbues new spaces with a sense of warmth and familiarity. Throughout, colour and texture have been used with intention in order to create different moods within the home.