The brief is to rebuild the basement and form a new addition to the house that embraces the water that has come up through the ground since the January floods, working with it, allowing the family good access to the sheltered courtyard garden to the west, along with the flexible living spaces that can cater for a family of 3 or be able to be interconnected to host a small informal concert.

The design preserves the existing 1890’s villa at the front of the site and keeps the cellular nature of the villa with the bedrooms and an evening sitting room with views to the Waitakere ranges.  A new stair in an atrium, floats over the source of the water.  A pool under the stairs allows the water to rise and fall due to seasonal change.  The passage of water is allowed to flow through the meeting point between old and new before exiting into garden and flowing down to a natural formed swimming pool in the rear garden.

Each space embraces the interests of the family including the collection of books and musical instruments and a love of swimming.

The distinction between the interior and exterior is blurred by the materiality of the flagstone floor.  Other materials are natural and honest including historical bricks from the Arch hill brick and tile company, insitu off-the-form concrete and steel joinery.

The courtyard sits on the edge of the water providing a raised island in which to enjoy the sun, the site and the cooling effect of the water.  The white honed, insitu concrete reflects the pool of water at its base providing a cooling effect.