Villa Revival

Allenby Ave, Devonport – completed 2014 A 60m extension was commissioned for this elegant 1909 triple bay villa, with a heavy emphasis on attaining a result that tied in with the original building so that it looked like it belonged to the period and not added later. Project scope The renovation involved demolishing the back half of the house and rebuilding, pushing out at the back to create a new bathroom, open living area and kitchen. Externally, the old part of the house at the back was integrated with the new part with an "L" shaped deck. The project also involved major excavation work under the house to create a lower level, comprising a rumpus room,  new bathroom/laundry, under stair storage and a work shop. Key design features Specially sourced timber flooring from the South Island was used for the extension to ensure the two parts of the home – the existing and the new – flowed together seamlessly. The timber window frames and scotia were custom made to match the original materials, honouring the heritage and detail of the older building’s features. Main challenges The existing steel pressed ceiling proved a challenge, as the extension had to be build up around it without damaging this delicate feature. The ceiling was propped carefully for the duration of the build to ensure no damage was done.