Residential

Waiheke Island Cottage

Location

Waiheke Island

Client

Private

Date

2018

Delicately situated on a quiet bay on Waiheke Island, this listed Georgian sea seaside cottage was sympathetically restored and updated with modern conveniences.

Alterations
Extensions
Restoration
Timber

There are very few surviving cottages of this era. Our approach to the restoration of this cottage was both discrete and authentic, seeking no greater scale than the original. The interventions sought to ensure both amenity for the present owners and to ensure its continued existence in the unique coastal character of Waiheke’s eastern end.

This cottage dates from the early 20th century and was once the Police Station and Oyster Inspector’s house, when the greatest concentration of Waiheke residents was at the eastern ‘Bottom End’ of the island. It was a largely self-sufficient community providing service to the active coastal trade of the Hauraki Gulf, and beyond to the Coromandel Peninsula.

The standard of original construction fell remarkably short of its counterparts in inner city Auckland, resulting in a restoration project which became a substantial rebuild, but it has been successful in maintaining a high level of authenticity. The closed in verandah was reinstated to its early form, with details re-imagined using archival photographs.

Winner of the 2022 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland Architecture Award in the Heritage Category.

Traditional carpentry techniques were put into practice, with typical details referenced from early Auckland houses, such as ‘broomstick’ cornices, solid timber cupboards and linings, a meat-safe and a newly designed range enclosure.

A significant amount of original hardware was re-used, preserving the building's essential simplicity as well as breathing new life back into this iconic seaside cottage.

Not only was a high level of authenticity important to us, we also wanted to create spaces for our client that were relaxing, and exuded a quiet charm.

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Address

Level 4, Landmark House
187 Queen Street
Auckland CBD 1010

Mailing
PO Box 105929, Auckland City 1143