When his 1913 house was destroyed in the 2011 earthquakes, the owner made a bold decision. He vowed to replicate the four-bedroom home as exactly as he could, but to modern Building Code regulations. This required salvaging materials from the wreckage of the old building and replicating those that couldn’t be saved – down to the most intricate detail. In other words, the construction team needed carpentry skills seldom used in modern builds as well as high levels of expertise in brickwork, tilework and removing leadlights and reinstalling the restored windows.

Steve Brown Builders couldn’t wait to get started on the ‘stunning project’, which gave the team a chance to show their range of specialist skills on the 422sqm build. Today the two-storey brick and half-timbered home – with extensive ornate plaster ceilings, Italian marble fireplaces and leadlights – stands as a tribute to its owner’s insistence that history be reintroduced to the city and the construction team’s dedication to fulfilling his wish. It has been a win-win: the charm of yesteryear has been brought back, but with all the comforts of a modern home.