Ponsonby House
NZIA 2023 Auckland Architecture Awards Winner
“This bold addition to a heritage streetscape contributes much to the debate around preserving Victorian design ideals. The small site is used wisely and responds well to planning restrictions, with an elevated gable emerging from a rectilinear base that presents a unique and light-hearted profile to the street. Internally, planning adjacencies dispense with traditional approaches — opening directly to rear living spaces, then out to the landscaped garden and pool. This approach, the use of light colour tones and superb levels of natural light, give the perception of greater volume than is provided on the lower levels. This new home is an excellent example of subtle disregard for the rules, executed in a delightful way.”
(NZIA Awards Jury)
This new house on a 325m2 section attempts a considered subversion of the 2-story weatherboard cottage. It accepts and reiterates its neighbours' weatherboard and corrugated iron materiality but is more playful with its formal relationships to the exterior and interior. Care is taken at the street to integrate with the existing setbacks and break up the scale of the dwelling with detailed elements such as a partially screened bay window , an upper story shutter and differing painted textures. The garage has been recessed back from the street and hidden into the façade detailing. The interior reflects a plan of overlapped sliding spaces bringing the twin benefits of spacial efficiency and the subversion of the formal planning that typifies the Victorian villa architecture of the neighbours. (Archipro)
Press/Links:
https://homestyle.co.nz/gerrad-halls-light-filled-ponsonby-project-redefines-heritage-design/
https://www.firstwindows.co.nz/narrow-escape
https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/winners-revealed-auckland-architecture-awards-2023/