Parnell Conversion – Parnell, Auckland City, New Zealand

By taking a fresh approach to the renovation of this traditional timber villa, we aimed to create a home that holds true to its origins while delivering light, effortless flow and space for its owners.

The typically small defined rooms of a historic villa were challenging for the needs of modern family living and there were various shortcomings and little access to the outside.

The house is sitting on a narrow sloped site in the Auckland suburb of Parnell. The steepness of the section allows for three levels at the rear, while the street frontage keeps the traditional single-level villa character.

The main challenge was to accommodate the family comfortable, while integrating the two lower levels, which were detached and used as separate apartments. The previous separation into different flats and the steep fall of the terrain didn’t make for an easy connection between the home and its garden.

The owners wanted to have distinct zones to allow room for everyone, with a second living area and a master bedroom downstairs, away from the guest- and children rooms. The conversion into one dwelling was undertaken within a rigorous budget and could only be resolved by maintaining as many original features as possible and by keeping the existing positions of bathrooms and kitchen.

The majority of the renovation has been on the rear of the building involving the creation of a new kitchen, lounge, deck, office, and bathrooms. The central gesture in reorganising the home was the creation of a light-filled staircase just in line with the entrance hallway. Rearranging that central area, so it was more generous, made the plan of the house unfold.

Externally, the steep garden area is divided into various terraces, connected via an external staircase to the front garden above. A detached laundry building was transformed into a small guest room with its own timber terrace.

Because of the proximity of neighbouring houses in this dense residential area, much attention has been giving to landscaping. Despite the small size of the lot, a lush, tropical atmosphere was created with water features, a small pocket of lawn and a variety of palm trees.

It is a busy house, full of character and life of the occupants.

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Existing situation lacking access to garden.	Top level balcony with city views and an extended outdoor decking area throughout the second level.	Restructured villa blending in with the terraced garden.
Restructured lower level with detached studio.	Lower level and laundry building prior to renovation.	Timber boardwalks connecting terraces.
Dilapidated additions and disconnected garden area.	Lush tropical backgarden after new landscaping.	Transformation from laundry to guesthouse.
Streetview of the historic timber villa.	City views from the upper terrace.	Lounge and historic fire place at the lower level.
The exposed block of the fire place is zoning the living from the dining area.	Guestroom with library with historic timber floors and ceiling.	The timber detailed ceiling guides visitors down the hallway towards the rear heart of the house.