Stepping up the footprint

Robyn Welsh

Owners have achieved space, light, personal and communal spaces in their new build, writes

The new home Lynley and Martin Wild have created, using the footprint of this site’s original 1970s brick home, has delivered the best of everything they’ve experienced in their three previous homes. The couple lived for a time in a townhouse in Remuera, adored the nearby 1910 villa that they redecorated, and later moved into an apartment which became the focus of a makeover.

Then, looking ahead to Martin’s retirement from his role as professor of neuroscience, they turned their attention out of town to this former doublestorey home and its adjacent boatshed, overlooking a protected walkway down to Algies Bay beach.

“I fell in love with it because it was basically just a box,” says Lynley.

“It was ripe for renovation and that’s what I love doing.”

They stripped the top level of the house and adjacent stand-alone boatshed/garage down to the concrete block bases.

From there, they and Warkworth-based architectural designer Bernie Kose reworked a new home above and beyond the footprint of those two original dwellings.

In doing so, they’ve achieved space, light, personal and communal spaces and lifestyle flexibility indoor and out.

From Lynley’s choice of a blue tint to the cedarclad exterior and grey/white laminate timber floors, they have created a seaside vibe with bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and down for themselves and their guests.

Upstairs, Lynley and Martin’s open plan living area and deck face Snells Beach and Tawharanui, so they can enjoy seeing everything from beautiful moonrises to visiting dolphins.

On the opposite side, it opens to a 20sq m sheltered all-weather deck for outdoor dining.

The wider deck links up with Martin’s study and extends down to their garden with raised vegetable beds among fruit trees. 44 WILLJAMES AVE, ALGIES BAY SIZE (more or less):

PRICE GUIDE:

AUCTION: INSPECT:

SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: