Big injection of character

Two new villas join an existing one to form an enclave on a corner site, writes Graham Hepburn

With a background as a corporate lawyer, Richard Keen should take a rational approach to property development. But that’s far from what has happened with Villas on Kaspar, a three- home subdivision at the centre of Warkworth.

To begin with, Richard and wife Kirsty bought the original villa on a 2050sq m corner site for themselves. They planned to renovate and move in but after doing some research for the project they realised that there were more period villas in the neighbourhood and that was a catalyst for them deciding to shift the existing home to one side of the section, subdivide and build two more villas beside it.

“It would have been easier to build brick and tiles but building villas just felt right,” Richard says. “And it’s given that corner context by adding Villa 2 and Villa 3.

Villa 2 is No. 2A and has just been finished by the Keens’ design and build company My Home, My Land with help from Maycon Homes.

Trevor Pyle, of Masterplan Architectural, designed the home around ideas that Richard gleaned from villas in Mt Eden and Grey Lynn.

As you would expect from a villa it has a 3m stud, board and batten- style ceilings with light roses, skirting boards, dado rails and architraves. Outside, the veranda has wooden banisters and fretwork, while the bay windows are topped with ornate detailing and finials.

Richard says he collaborated with the tradesmen so they could express their craftsmanship.

He says: “It’s one thing to have a vision; it’s another thing to have the execution.” But all this detailing comes at a cost. “We blew the budget,” he says. “If you are not willing to compromise on quality it costs you but families deserve a home they can live in and enjoy. You want friends to come over to your house and say, ‘ Wow, this is cool’.”

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