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The existing bungalow and garage required updating to accommodate the needs of a young family and to maximise the outdoor living available. The site in Westmere sloped away from the street façade, with little connection to the backyard.

The house consists of 4 main elements – the original house now houses three bedrooms, a generous family bathroom and a second open living space/playroom for the children. 

A living pavilion with extensive north-facing glazed sliders and linked to the bedroom block via a glazed sloping link, is compact yet highly functional and provides an all year round connection to the backyard. 

The timber shelving divider houses storage for the kitchen and a satellite desk on one side and the tv, stereo and bookshelves on the living room side. A built-in window seat and freestanding fireplace complete the space.

The kitchen features black and white railway tiles and gaboon ply cabinetry.

Across the courtyard, the original garage has been repurposed into a flexi-room for music, art, play and study.

The courtyard itself is a continuation of the living pavilion and flexi-room which both open seamlessly onto this sun trap.

The addition is in an unapologetically modern style with bandsawn ply and aluminium joinery in contrast to the traditional weatherboard house.

PhotographerEmma-Jane Hetherington

Dorrington Atcheson Architects
Auckland
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Westmere Park Ave
Westmere Park Ave
Westmere Park Ave
Westmere Park Ave
Westmere Park Ave

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Westmere Park Ave

About the
Professional

Twenty years of experience coupled with an enduring spirit of youthful enthusiasm is the yin-yang balance that makes Dorrington Atcheson Architects a team that has produced so many award-winning buildings for their clients.

While every project calls for a fresh eye and an innovative approach, directors Tim Dorrington and Sam Atcheson also draw upon their considerable experience within the New Zealand marketplace.

Specialising in residential design, but with a proven track record in retail and office environments, this boutique company has quietly made their mark on the built environment, winning several NZIA awards.

Their methodology is highly collaborative, so while DAA favours contemporary design that takes its cue from mid-century modernism, its role is not to dictate but to engage with the requirements of home-owners and clients. Responding to site, budget and idiosyncrasies is all in a day’s work.

This honest approach is reflected in the materiality of their buildings where natural products are celebrated. Dorrington Atcheson Architects design functional spaces with measured proportions, a simplicity of structure and just enough surprise to delight.