Realised Potential – Collectors House by BDG Architects

Surprisingly unassuming, Collectors House in Auckland sees a restoration of its original bones come together with a new pavilion that embraces its clifftop views. BDG Architects combines the existing and the new through a refined sense of flow.

Located in the suburbs of Auckland, Collectors House sees BDG Architects re-evaluate the original home, reconstructing and rearranging its internal planning and opening to better respond to the site, its aspect and the client. These renovation and re-planning works come together with the proposal of a new pavilion that overlooks the harbour. The resulting home eliminates the previous dark, reclusive and small various zones, and creates a home that quite literally opens up to its incredible views, creating a new and considered allowance of movement and flow throughout.

Located in the suburbs of Auckland, Collectors House sees BDG Architects re-evaluate the original home.

On original inspection, a series of previous renovations and ill-conceived spaces made the home restrictive, leaving its full potential unrealised. The new works, hidden behind the existing unassuming street frontage, see expansive views open to the north. Maintaining the original entry experience, and as a play on expanse and retreat, the home slowly opens up as one move through it. Key to these gestures in planning and arrangement are the connection between living and its occupants, and the creation of a gallery space to house the client’s diverse art, sculpture and designer furniture collections.

A combined use of the existing language and a refined industrial aesthetic brings the new and old together. Extensive use of glazing upon entry provides glimpses into the inviting house beyond, where a specific u-shaped floor plan creates a sense of connection between the external and internal spaces. Linking the old and new is a generous corridor space, again referencing the industrial with steel glazed elements, giving visual cues to functions and spaces beyond. Combining the warmth of timber oak flooring, brass detailing, black metalwork and dark finishes, a mood of refinement and contemplation is created.

The new works, hidden behind the existing unassuming street frontage, see expansive views open to the north.

From its initial unassuming approach, Collectors House combines the advantages of an established and optimised location and integration into context through a reimagined contemporary lens. BDG Architects has created a home of well-executed details and a sense of restraint that brings a longevity to the project and its future. Now, the home opens to a unique leafy green outlook over the surrounding suburbs and allows for a better-connected life for its occupants to the site, its context and one another.

BDG Architects has created a home of well-executed details and a sense of restraint that brings a longevity to the project and its future.