When Auckland is your second home, time and space are everything. For the couple who bought this apartment in the heart of the city, the brief to rework their dwelling — set within a ten-floor building — was simple: a sanctuary that offered comfort and ease while they visited family, and the freedom to lock up and leave when they flew back to their primary residence elsewhere in Aotearoa.
Amy Hendry and Claire Paterson of Four Walls Architecture were tasked with redefining the 51-square-metre, one-bedroom apartment. Anchored by a north-facing balcony with views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the space enjoys generous glazing that pulls in the coastal light — a feature the architects were keen to celebrate.
With a vision to maximise every inch within this compact space, Amy and Claire worked within the existing footprint so as not to interfere with the building’s structure. The goal was to refine the internal layout so that the time the clients spent in the compact apartment was effortless and comfortable.
“The space itself was rather mid-spec,” Amy says. “It sits within a very nice building but the fit-out was generic — the same kitchen and bathroom are repeated across the building. It would be a great apartment to rent, but, for those living there, the 2.4m-wide kitchen offered minimal amenity and limited storage. Having worked with the clients previously, this was about taking how we knew they live and making the most of it.”
To optimise the space, Amy and Claire reworked the entire interior.
“With any apartment renovation, it comes down to two things: more storage — because there’s never enough — and a much better kitchen. Here, we allowed it to function beautifully and elegantly.”
Their first move was to rework the kitchen. Previously limited to the southern wall, it was reoriented to wrap around the eastern windows.
“By shifting to an L-shape, the kitchen gained new bench space, improving day-to-day ease and functionality,” Amy explains. “By extending the kitchen against two walls, we doubled the linear length, gaining three metres of additional cabinetry. Even though this means we lost 600mm of lounge space, gaining the storage was more valuable.”
To maintain a sense of openness, the architects designed ‘floating’ storage along the eastern bay of windows, keeping the glazing visible so the floor appears to run uninterrupted — subtly enhancing the sense of space.
The bathroom was reconfigured to include wall-to-wall mirror cabinets to boost storage and improve proportions. A new vanity and illuminated ledge and upgraded fittings complete the transformation.
“We also reworked the doors to allow for a laundry in there; [it was] previously located in the hallway,” Amy says.
Facing the usual situation of a cramped apartment bedroom, Amy and Claire relocated the door, freeing up a wall and allowing for roomy wall-to-wall wardrobes.
Materiality adds to the sense of calm. The consistent use of uplifting, gentle finishes — a white-on-white Corian benchtop and lacquered white cabinetry meets soothing VidaSpace VidaPlank timber flooring — balances warmth with function.
“A calm and sophisticated feeling runs through the apartment. Details have been designed carefully — every junction thought of — enabling everything to be streamlined and pared right back,” Amy comments. “Previously, the apartment had oak-look floors that were quite yellow; we chose a softer, more muted timber.”
The clients are fond of side lighting and, given the compact footprint, they didn’t want heavy overhead lighting. The downlights were replaced with smaller, dimmable fittings, and under-cabinet lighting with table lighting from Slow Store and ECC provides a soft ambient glow. Adding character without obstructing the outlook, a 2.8m Powersurge Lateral pendant hangs gracefully in the eastern part of the kitchen.
Amy explains that, as the bathroom was quite dark, “We increased the lighting, with more downlights and LED strip lighting under the mirror cabinet and in the ceiling.”
Amy explains that, as the bathroom was quite dark, “We increased the lighting, with more downlights and LED strip lighting under the mirror cabinet and in the ceiling.”
The apartment’s windows were left untouched, as they are part of the building’s permanent structure. The long wall from the front door to the glass sliders at the balcony was dedicated to the clients’ artwork.
“The clients have some very large pieces, so the design needed to be recessive enough to let the artworks sing. What colour is brought into the space through the art simply leaps out.”
With their clever approach to this small but mighty space, Amy and Claire have created a compact city retreat that feels restful and practical. Thoughtfully arranged and beautifully resolved, it’s a joy for its owners to call this a second home; everything in its place, everything considered.
