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A Material Continuum – Suburban Oasis by Studio John Irving Architects and Knight Associates
A successful home is one that reflects its inhabitants, bending to the patterns of their lives whilst facilitating retreat and connection as needed. Working in a heritage context, strict regulations and the imperative to preserve the old can easily stifle such qualities. Studio John Irving Architects and Knight Associates have risen to the challenge, coaxing a bright contemporary home out from a dilapidated yet historic cottage in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby.
Receiving a design brief to create an open kitchen-living space fit for entertaining whilst also screening from the nearby neighbours, architect John Irving made the most of an open-plan extension by incorporating the outdoors. Heritage regulations dictated that the façade of the house remain unaltered, and so a subterranean garage was installed, spanning the full width and depth of the house above. The backyard was originally raised steeply above the existing home. To capitalise on this space, a retaining wall was erected and softened by richly coloured, thoughtfully layered shrubs, trees and vines, courtesy of Jared Lockhart Design.
Despite the height offered by the garden wall, there was a need to create a greater sense of privacy, and this was further complicated by the need to introduce more natural light into the home. “The orientation of the house and proximity and height of the northern neighbour meant we decided to do a massive skylight over the living areas,” explains John. The skylight is clad in dressed red cedar slats, which gently diffuse light and add a warm finish to the immaculate angles of the pitched roof. According to John, “much of the design of the home is about getting light into the house from above.”
Building on this bright and airy space, interior designer Rufus Knight’s commitment to unity imbues a sense of flow. Steel-framed glazed doors subtly mark the threshold between old and new, the transparency of the glass indicating the sense of harmony between the two. “The key for us really was to make the interior feel like a consistent experience between the old workers cottage and the new extension,” says Rufus. He also describes a design brief to create cohesion within the extension, flowing seamlessly from the kitchen to the living area and out into the courtyard.
Rufus explains how the clients “wanted something that felt quite relaxed. They didn’t want a really strong delineation between the building and the courtyard.” This borderless approach is signalled by consistent material cues, extending from the original cottage through the extension and to the courtyard beyond. It manifests in a wide, open fireplace, harmonious furniture choices, and a relaxed, elegant kitchen.
The simplicity and success of the kitchen lies within its organisation. A commanding, granite topped island bench faces out to the open plan lounge. It is mirrored by another simple and solid bench, with an open shelf floating above the granite splashback. With generous surface area on either side, a Fisher & Paykel Contemporary Series 90cm oven and 90cm Contemporary Series Gas on Glass cooktop take centre stage. The pair offer ample space for cooking, whilst enabling the pared back design of the central kitchen to shine.
The appliances even go so far as to elevate the design, with clean lines, tight gaps and beautiful materiality, explains Rufus.
The appliances even go so far as to elevate the design, with clean lines, tight gaps and beautiful materiality, explains Rufus. “We work a lot with Fisher & Paykel. We are familiar with their product ranges, and having this strong, delineated benchtop and splashback with the black granite, we went for their Contemporary range, with the black glass and stainless steel trimmings,” he says.
In this space, cohesion was once again key. “We wanted to make sure that there was visual continuity between the floor and the cabinetry, so there’s quite a similar material treatment for those two surfaces,” Rufus says of the American oak veneer cabinetry and matching American oak floorboards, meticulously installed by Jeffery Construction. Anchoring this space is the granite benchtop, which complements the black plaster finished walls in both tone and texture.
Sitting modestly aside from this open area is the kitchen scullery, an entirely functional room whose design is by no means an afterthought. “The key driver for [the scullery] was that the fridge wasn’t part of the main kitchen,” says Rufus. Foregoing the expectation to select integrated, hidden appliances, a Fisher & Paykel freestanding refrigerator-freezer in stainless steel stands proudly in the space, accompanying the matching Fisher & Paykel Double DishDrawer. Stainless steel benchtop, drawers and tapware unite the room in its purpose. “We were looking at robustness and durability for the scullery; stainless steel just felt like a natural fit rather than an integrated model,” Rufus explains of the utilitarian finish.
Such a space facilitates an ease and sociability that responds to the client’s lifestyle, even as the important features of the heritage architecture are retained. The scullery and open kitchen are a demonstration of human-centred design, whereby the layout and appliances enhance not only the use but also the enjoyment of the space. Indeed, for the clients, Rufus shares that the kitchen and its appliances have seamlessly “become part of the fabric of everyday life.” John reiterates, “they are very happy campers and say they couldn’t be more delighted!”
The contrast between this weatherboard cottage and its contemporary extension is rounded out by considered continuity. A sense of flow from one light-filled space to another is the outcome of collaborative and creative work. The garden is in conversation with the dining area, which blends effortlessly with the lounge and the kitchen. Despite the challenges of the heritage regulations that informed the project, through careful collaboration Studio John Irving Architects and Knight Associates have achieved a sense of harmony and balance.
