This contemporary villa renovation in central Auckland offers a joyous distinction between old and new, and a beautiful harmony of form, material, texture, and experience.
From the street, the original charm remains: horizontal weatherboards meet ornate fretwork. It’s the moment the front door opens that the experience changes — and slowly the reveal of what’s beyond gathers pace.
Reach the end of the original hallway and you’re deposited into a space of perfectly executed drama; here, a voluminous extension is housed in a floating box, which opens onto an inviting poolscape where minimalism and decadence are at the fore.
There’s no escaping the beauty of this place, and it starts underfoot, where architectural designer, Chris Tate, specified the use of PeterFell 155 coloured concrete, a light-toned grey hue from the brand’s Neutral Range.
“We chose this because we wanted consistency and certainty with the colour. We used 155 because it works beautifully with the light grey, white, and timber material palette,” Chris says.
Inside, the coloured concrete floor has a burnished finish that allows for a sense of movement and tactility in the creamy tones.
“You get that visible texture; it’s a beautiful floor.”
The same PeterFell 155 colour was used for the exterior concrete that forms the base of the terrace — a move that allows for a seamless transition between areas, and a gentle change of pace between indoors and out. On the terrace, the concrete has a brushed finish, ensuring it is non-slip and suited to the poolside setting.
“It’s really interesting what you can do with the different finishes and how the colour works. It’s a really nice combination with the two finishes together; it has a beautiful minimalist feel to it.”
In the centre of the terrace, the concrete was cut away to create a planting area for a cloud tree — an organic interruption to the striking simplicity of the materials around it. A Dekton kitchen island spans indoors and out, echoing the continuation of the concrete. At the rear of the extension, a full-height timber panelled wall introduces a tactile warmth.
This is a place of privacy and retreat; a city villa with an entirely new lease on life, where old and new are perfectly juxtaposed.
Read more about City Villa by Chris Tate Architecture here.
