WESTMERE BUNGALOW | NEW-BUILD RESIDENCE

A growing family had found their place in Westmere. The neighbourhood was right, the street was right, but the house wasn't keeping up. They needed more space, and the way the home sat on its site meant the sun was working against them rather than with them.

After careful analysis, the decision was made to move the original heritage bungalow off-site, relocating it to a new life in Onehunga, and start fresh. But rather than take the opportunity to build something entirely of its time, the decision was made to design a new home that would honour the character of the street. The classic bungalow silhouette was retained, with its pitched roofline, horizontal weatherboard cladding, and considered proportions sitting comfortably among its neighbours. Look closer and the details tell a different story: crisp contemporary joinery, refined material choices, and a rear elevation that opens up entirely to the northern sun in a way no original bungalow ever could.

The single most transformative move was flipping the orientation of the living spaces. The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area now face due north, bathed in sun from morning to evening. A soaring gabled glass wall anchors the rear of the home, dissolving the boundary between inside and out and framing the entertaining terrace, pool, and precast concrete outdoor fireplace beyond. This is a home designed for the way the family actually lives: long lunches, late evenings by the fire, impromptu swims on a Tuesday.

The kitchen is a serious piece of design in its own right. Floor-to-ceiling dark oak joinery, a marble stone island and splashback, and a concealed butler's pantry give the space the weight and refinement of a professional kitchen without losing any warmth.

Upstairs, the master suite is a calm, light-filled retreat wrapped in sheer linen, with a bespoke oak bedhead surround and treetop views across the neighbourhood. The dedicated gym sits alongside, complete with an infrared sauna and pilates reformer, so wellness is built into the rhythm of daily life rather than something to travel for.

Downstairs, the children's wing is entirely their own. Two generous bedrooms and a relaxed lounge, already alive with drums, keyboards, and the general energy of kids who know they have space, open directly onto a bespoke sports court. Their world, on their terms.

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

Build by Iconic Build

Captured by Sam Warner

Aerial view of a new build bungalow in Westmere, Auckland, showing the north-facing pool and entertaining terrace to the west and a bespoke sports court to the east, set within a residential neighbourhood.
North-facing open plan living, dining and kitchen in a new build Westmere bungalow, featuring a vaulted gabled glass wall, dark oak joinery, marble island bench, and bold orange sectional sofa opening to a pool and entertaining terrace.
Open plan living and kitchen in a Westmere new build bungalow, showing dark oak floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, marble island bench, skylight, oak timber floors, and a bold black vertical batten stair screen with framed artwork beyond.
Kitchen and dining in Westmere new build bungalow, featuring floor-to-ceiling dark oak cabinetry, marble stone counter and splash backs, and sculptural pendant light black dining table and chairs and hidden butlers pantry with open shelving.
North-facing kitchen in a Westmere new build bungalow, featuring a large marble stone island bench with acrylic bar stools, floor-to-ceiling dark oak cabinetry, marble splashback with LED underlighting, gas hob, skylight, and open sliding doors.
Living area and butler's pantry in a Westmere new build bungalow, showing a bold orange sectional sofa, black vertical batten stair screen with pop art, dark oak open shelving with coffee station, marble island bench.
Galley kitchen with dark oak joinery, marble benchtop, gas hob and matte black tapware in a new build Auckland bungalow, with north-facing outlook to pool and entertaining terrace, Westmere
Home gym in a Westmere new build bungalow, featuring a cedar infrared sauna with glass door, pilates reformer, exercise bike, plantation shutters and rubber flooring, located in the upstairs master suite level.
Open plan living room with linear gas fireplace, orange sectional sofa and black batten stair screen in a new build Auckland bungalow, Westmere.
Children's lounge in a Westmere new build bungalow, featuring a neutral sectional sofa, drum kit, keyboard and television, plantation shutters, sliding doors opening directly to a backyard sports court, and black painted heritage-style door joinery.
Master bedroom with bespoke oak bed surround, floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains and linear pendant light in a new build Auckland bungalow, Westmere.