2019 Auckland Architecture Awards Winner
Recrafted Art House
There are four elements in play in this magnificent restoration and expansion of a 1910s Arts and Crafts home. One is the outdoors, featuring a beautiful and very busily planted garden, large lawn, extensive patio with pool and, on the lower level, a tennis court. One is the original house, which Crosson Architects have assiduously restored, making the most of a gorgeous five-window bay and every other original feature worth keeping. A third is the new extension, which does not copy the original but borrows its form and scale to provide both counterpoint and homage. The new work honours and also reimagines the old. Family living and a commercially scaled Chinese kitchen, fully set to capture the breath of the wok, are the key features of the new extensions, but there is also garaging, cellar, gym and various service areas. And the fourth element, giving a thrilling bounce to the already formidable architectural achievements, is the owners’ own art collection. A gleaming abstract Gregor Kregar sculpture sits on the lawn facing the house; inside, a superbly curated selection of work by many of our best artists provides pleasure on every wall. This is a luxury refit, but money doesn’t buy taste. Client and architect alike had to supply that.
- Practice
- Crosson Architects Limited
- Category
- Heritage
- Location
- Auckland
