The phrase “you can’t beat an ex-state home” is often bandied about; but it turns out sometimes you absolutely can.
Richard Furze, of Furze Architecture + Design, and wife Becs bought a Mt Albert grammar-zoned ex-statie at this address in 2015, knowing they’d renovate but not how much.
Richard says: “It had asbestos glitter ceilings, swirly plaster on some interior walls and half its wooden joinery had been replaced with aluminium. And everything was in the wrong place.
“After we lived in it with our two young daughters for a while we realised that rather than trying to fix it we’d be better to pretty much start again.”
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Now it’s essentially a 252sqm new home as they only retained the foundations, native timber flooring and doors to reuse.
Richard drew on the idea of a modern reinterpretation of a state house, re-examining material selection and proportions, respecting the site’s orientation and prioritising indoor-outdoor flow.
They extended the floor plan in several directions including upwards, adding the internal-access front double garage topped with a loft-style apartment, plus a versatile room above the main residence.
The resulting, beautifully light-filled home saw Richard make it to the finals of the 2018 Best Design Awards Residential Category (alongside renowned names such as Fearon Hay Architects).
He designed a place his family still adores, accompanied by the apartment where Bec’s late mum lived.
Richard Furze, of Furze Architecture + Design, designed the home himself for his family, retaining only the foundations of the ex-state home, native timber flooring and doors to reuse. Photo / Supplied
The beautiful, light-filled home made it to the finals of the 2018 Best Design Awards Residential Category. Photo / Supplied
The surprising low-maintenance exterior combines block, brick and pre-coloured Pallisade weatherboards which never need painting, leaving house-washing and repainting some ground-floor block every decade or so.
Richard jokes that it’s a house “with a face for radio”, as it looks relatively unassuming on approach, barely hinting at delights inside. “People typically walk in and say, ‘holy cow’.”
He considered every detail exactingly but the showstopper is probably the magnificent indoor-outdoor flow from the north-facing rear.
The rear kitchen-scullery, which forms part of a larger expanse, has large over-wall glass sliding doors creating a 5.4m-wide opening to the rear deck.
Doors open, one of the kitchen’s two islands with textured porcelain benchtops can function as a servery for outdoor entertaining. Friends love socialising by the impressive outdoor fire-pizza oven in the deck-side outdoor room with motorised retractable canvas roof. It’s edged by two ivy-clad block walls from the original garage.
“We have to kick people out of there when it gets to 3am or 4am.”
The rear kitchen-scullery, which forms part of a larger expanse, has large over-wall glass sliding doors creating a 5.4m-wide opening to the rear deck. Photo / Supplied
“We have to kick people out of there when it gets to 3am or 4am,” says Richard of the impressive outdoor space with fire-pizza oven and motorised retractable canvas roof. Photo / Supplied
Oak joinery continues from the kitchen into a dining area, which transitions into the living area with enclosed fire.
When a sliding door covers a built-in display unit it reveals a home office-computer recess. A neighbouring hidden door reveals a corridor to the master bedroom with sophisticated ensuite and wardrobing. A powder room, two more bedrooms connected by a revolving bookcase and the family bathroom complete this level. Upstairs’ second lounge can be an additional bedroom.
The loft-style apartment above the front garage, lined in blonded ply, has independent access, a lounge, bedroom and bathroom. It’s suitable for extended family or guests. Outdoor lighting, lawn and lush, predominantly native planting complement the home.
Balmoral School is less than 100m away and Dominion Road eateries are nearby. Eden Park is a 20-minute walk, Westfield St Lukes is a three-minute drive, and the central city is an easy Uber drive away.
A decade after buying here the couple are itching for another project, having bought a largely original heritage home.
Ray White agent Mike Robson says: “This amazing home is perfectly proportioned for growing families, offering teens private space and adults areas for entertaining and relaxation, thanks to its unique internal design – a real standout home!”
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