Home truths

Housing market in recovery mode

Renovating a historic home is not an undertaking for the faint-hearted. Architect Tony Koia knew he had a massive job on his hands when he and wife Anna bought an 1895 villa 17 years ago that had, as he diplomatically puts it, “not had a lot of maintenance” over quite some time.

But breathing new life into the Devonport house, which is something of a local landmark thanks to its distinctive tower, was a dream project for Tony.

“There is quite a lot of responsibility that comes with renovating a home like this because it is such an icon in Devonport,” says Tony. “The idea was to retain all the charm and beauty yet be uncompromisingly modern. You want the character to be the backdrop to contemporary living, and to hopefully create something that is timeless.”

The home was built by a Danish sea captain who chose an elevated site on the edge of Mt Victoria so he could see out to the shipping lanes in the harbour. Later the doubleheight tower was added to the single storey dwelling so his wife could see his ship coming up the channel.

A tall palm tree by the front door is believed to have been a souvenir from a stopover in Mauritius on the captain’s way to New Zealand.

Tony and Anna bought the house from an owner who’d lived there for 60 years and were delighted to see it still had so many original features, but admit that for the first few years, living there came with its challenges.

“It was like a pioneer cottage, with a leaky roof and buckets down the hallway,” recalls Tony. They fixed issues like water tightness as soon as possible to make the home liveable but it was to be well over a decade before they were able to commit the time and money to giving the house the massive makeover it needed to turn it into a beautiful and functional family home for them and their two daughters.

They not only raised the roof slightly to create an upstairs floor, but dug down to put in a basement, so the house is now spread over three levels. The front entrance, which had opened into a narrow hallway, was moved to a bedroom that became a welcoming foyer. Kauri sarking removed when this work was carried out has been re-used throughout the house, including in the stairwell and in the kitchen, where it covers an extraction fan and the fireplace.

Tony made sure the house was future-proofed and included plenty of green technology, such as a greywater treatment system that means water from the showers can be used to flush toilets and water the garden. The home is also wired for solar panels and electric car chargers.

Tony’s careful attention to detail is evident in every room, including the kitchen, where a huge 2.6m x 2.2m central island is not just a functional workspace but a work of art, thanks to the fact that it’s made of eyecatching white granite, softened with insets of kauri shelving.

“I wanted something that was quite artistic and modern, but still made reference to the fact it’s part of a villa,” says Tony.

The kitchen also has a separate scullery, and huge picture windows, and opens out to a terrace. The adjoining living room, which opens out on two sides to a wrap-around veranda, is huge, with a fireplace at one end and a music nook with builtin seating at the other. Tony introduced a contemporary touch with the striking Luke Jacomb hand-blown glass pendant lighting.

Also on this level is a separate study/living room/extra bedroom and guest bathroom.

There are three bedrooms on the upper level, which all have great water views.

The original tower has been incorporated into one of the bedrooms, and is used as a sitting area.

The lowest level houses a double garage, laundry and large living space which offers lots of options, from a rumpus/games room, through to selfcontained accommodation for extended family or a nanny.

Volcanic rock that was removed when the lower level was dug out has been used in the landscaping.

After all his hard work, Tony has now got his eye on another project, and it is time to let someone else enjoy the stunning home. He says it’s been a joy working on the house, and he’s proud of the way it has turned out. “I think it’s good for another 100 years.”

Agent Victoria Bidwell says Tony has done an amazing job, and the house is truly outstanding. “It is a very highly specced and unique character home. It’s also in a superb position, very close to the school, village, beach and the ferry.”

Sale: By negotiation

Contact: Victoria Bidwell, Bayleys, 021 947 080

The idea was to retain all the charm and beauty yet be uncompromisingly modern.

Tony Koia, architect