Teamwork is always a vital component of successful renovations, and this project in Auckland’s central suburbs is a case in point. The team has pulled off a remarkable transformation of a small, “compromised” 1920s cottage on a sloping site. Now, the owners have a house that not only meets the changing needs of a family, but also adds a spacious, contemporary extension that seamlessly links to the old house. The cottage itself, in a council-designated heritage zone, has been sympathetically and scrupulously restored. Today, the family has a fresh, lovely 270sqm home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living spaces, basement garaging and a landscaped courtyard with pool.

This was no straightforward project. The basement garage and separate guest rooms required a meticulously planned dig-out, given the proximity of neighbours on both sides. The addition — kitchen, dining and living spaces — extends to a back courtyard. A central lightwell in the kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows usher in light and louvres provide ventilation. Timber vertical panelling and painted cladding guide the residents through the house, while panelled doors conceal the laundry and the office. The one-time poky cottage has a new lease on life with more space, light, indoor-outdoor flow and a backyard oasis with a pool.