Character features, period charm and street presence that asserts this house truly belongs in its established suburb. Yes. Yet this is no slick renovation. This lovely 245sqm home, with wide views of the capital, is a new build. When the owners bought here, the intention was a rejuvenation, but it soon became clear that a new house — but with all the character of a heritage home — was the way to go. This allowed them to introduce a raft of smart-home measures and extras such as five-car parking, a gym, ensuites, pantry and state-of-the-art kitchen, while staying true to its hill-neighbourhood setting. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom result snuggles into its site and looks as if it has been there for decades.

While symmetry, consistency and elegance define the appearance of the new two-floor villa, its beating heart is the pinnacle of smart-home innovation. An automation platform manages more than 100 metres of custom-designed strip lighting, pendant lighting and wireless dimming — about 119 features all up. At the time of building, it was thought this was the biggest smart home in the country. Like this network, the CCTV, alarm and intercom systems have been carefully integrated into the character-filled house. The happy owners have struck the winning trifecta: top craftsmanship, villa-style elegance and high performance.