Tui Cottage | Wairarapa

By Mackit Architecture

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The owners of this property fell in love with the beautiful established garden and charming two bedroom historic cottage.

Unfortunately a previously added rear extension was not structurally sound and required a complete rebuild. This was a great opportunity to improve the way the extension integrated with the rest of the cottage’s aesthetic, as well as it’s layout.

The gable roof and weatherboards of the original dwelling were echoed to provide a completely integrated result. Existing timber joinery was repaired and reused and a beautiful matai floor hidden beneath carpet was restored to its former glory. A modern minimalist kitchen and bathroom were designed and crafted, with large skylights to provide natural light. Relining and insulating the existing areas completed the transformation into a light, bright, small but perfectly-formed space.

 

"We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the project and the way the spirit of the cottage has been preserved. For us, significant aspects of the project were:

  • The ideas you developed, the vision you shared with us and the design services were excellent.
  • Your ability to take our changes over the phone or by email and convert these into revised plans or drawings, turned around in a matter of minutes for us to consult on.
  • The care and attention your construction team did to remove, restore and reuse components of the old cottage.
  • The detail of the individual costs on all the invoices and statements made tracking project costs simple and straightforward. More importantly your costings were consistently accurate, what you said it would cost is what it cost.
  • Your patience, professionalism and understanding of every aspect of the build process. The high quality workmanship evident in every aspect of the project, in particular the joinery in the kitchen.
  • Your total management of the project which left us largely worry and hassle-free from one week to the next, during the duration of the project.

We have no hesitation in recommending Mackit to anyone and have every confidence in you as we look forward to the next project.”

Ann & Bruce McLean

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Tui Cottage | Wairarapa

Mackit Architecture
Mackit Architecture
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About the
Professional

James Mackie is an architectural designer, predominantly (but not exclusively) servicing the Wellington/Wairarapa region out of his busy Greytown design office. He founded his company Mackit Architecture in 2008, with a goal to fill the niche for bespoke modern homes that can be built efficiently and precisely. 

Being a registered designer with Architectural Designers New Zealand and a Licensed Building Practitioner in both design and carpentry, James has a unique edge when it comes to designing homes for discerning clients. Through the application of both his building and design knowledge, he can bridge the gap between complex high-level design and the practical reality of its construction. 
Inspired by the effect the built environment has on one’s self, James loves opportunities to enrich existence by creating high quality, beautifully designed spaces. Crucially, James’ incredible building knowledge also means that his plans are always expertly detailed and thought out – essentially he has already built the house in his head during the design process. 

Meticulous by nature, James keeps his hand in the construction industry through his own in-house projects, and finds the odd afternoon on the tools a great way to recharge and break through any creative blocks. This also enables him to establish and maintain extensive connections and an inside knowledge of the building industry. Clients find these connections hugely beneficial during the process of selecting a builder, which Mackit offers as part of their full construction observation services.