Westmere House
By Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects Ltd
Two rounds of renovations to this former state house have retained the intent of the original house but transformed it for busy family life.
The first renovation in 2015 doubled the size of the 80sq metre house when living and dining spaces, with a mezzanine study and bedroom, were added to the rear of the house. The design placed the dining table at the heart with large glass sliders opening out onto the garden.
The most recent renovation, in 2022, focused on the original state house. Its high stud has been accentuated by raising all existing door heights to the ceiling. The light and bright finishes of birch plywood and light timber floors further highlight the sense of space.
The new kitchen is key to knitting together old and new. Positioned in the original house, it links with the dining room from the 2015 addition. A kitchen island sits like a piece of furniture to engage with both spaces and promote social cooking times.
The original bedrooms have been extended and an ensuite added to the main bedroom along with inbuilt wardrobes. As well as the kitchen, there's a new laundry and main bathroom. The original windows have been replaced with double-glazing and cedar sashes.
Photos: Jackie Meiring
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Westmere House
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About the
Professional
Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects is an NZIA award-winning practice with studios in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Tauranga. Established in 1997, our rich portfolio of commercial and residential work demonstrates a strong commitment to creating beautifully-crafted architecture that enhances the lives of those who experience our buildings – both inside and out.
We believe that enduring architecture is a delicate balance of factors – our clients’ needs and aspirations, our professional training and expertise, the history and nature of the site – but also intuition and commonsense. Every design decision, from materials to how the building complements the landscape, matters to us and adds to the experiential qualities of our projects.
Directors Max Herriot and John Melhuish in Wellington, Duval O'Neill in Christchurch and Matt Pearson in Auckland are committed to the best architectural design practices. HMOA Associate and registered architect Jenny Duck runs the Tauranga studio.
As well as new homes and house renovations, we have experience in the education, recreation, heritage, health and hospitality sectors, office interiors, multi-unit developments, civil projects and master-planning.
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