GRAFTON BUNGALOW | HERITAGE RESTORATION & RENOVATION

This one was close. A grossly neglected character bungalow in Grafton, not far from the point where neglect becomes irreversible, where the calculus shifts from renovation to demolition and another piece of Auckland's architectural heritage is quietly lost.

Our client, an Auckland property developer with a track record of rescuing exactly these kinds of homes, saw something worth saving. Having worked together on similar projects in Grey Lynn, they enlisted Macfie Architecture to design the overhaul.

The internal configuration was redesigned from scratch - three generous bedrooms, two bathrooms and a light-filled open-plan kitchen, living and dining space that opens to the courtyard beyond. The kitchen was expanded to include a larder and scullery, and each bathroom was finished with character tile and heritage detailing that speaks the bungalow's own language.

Outside, stripped heritage details were restored and the landscaping reimagined, returning the exterior to the presence it once had and had long since lost.

There is a particular satisfaction in this kind of work. Auckland has too many character homes teetering on the edge of demolition through neglect alone, homes that can still be brought back and enjoyed for decades. This bungalow is one of them.

Project Scope - concept design, developed design, resource consent, building consent, on-site monitoring