The villa’s extension bridges the gap to the outdoors through an open plan design. The saw-toothed metal roofing, flashings and rainwater heads are in Resene Baltic Sea while the timber pergola structure has been painted Resene All Black. Inside, the concrete is sealed with Resene Concrete Clear.

The extension is essentially open plan but recognises the central hallway with rooms on either side. The back end of the extension is staggered, creating outdoor ‘deck rooms’ in the missing area of the plan,” he explained. “The idea was continued into the rear yard, where a central path leads right to the back fence and out into the natural surroundings, with ‘grass rooms’ on either side.”

The back extension of the villa provides fluid continuity between indoors and outdoors. The timber pergola has been painted Resene All Black, the exposed steel posts have been painted Resene Blaze, the metal roofing, flashings and rainwater heads are in Resene Baltic Sea, and the rear-facing masonry (far right) is in Resene Atmosphere. Inside the house, Resene Butter warms the walls.

Jonathan says that the result created an enclosure that appears to erode. “The impression becomes stronger as you walk through the home from what was the existing home, to the new open plan, to the semi-closed decks and finally to the open yard.”

The multi-level flooring of the extension creates boundaries to define areas within the open plan space. The masonry walls have been protected with Resene Concrete Clear, the exposed steel posts are painted Resene Blaze and the metal roofing, flashings and rainwater heads are in Resene Baltic Sea.

When it came to colour, Jonathan says they wanted to celebrate the materials and help create a sense of identity in each space.

“We chose Resene Blaze for the steel framing to reference the aged version of the material, which was often seen within the factories of yesteryear. The masonry was protected in Resene Concrete Clear to reflect its honesty and purpose – a separation for privacy, view, and sound.”

“The kitchen and dining areas were warmed with walls in Resene Butter and the contrasting cabinetry looks crisp in Resene Dusted Blue, bridging the gap between the concrete and GIB® palettes.”

Cabinets in Resene Dusted Blue contrast the Resene Butter walls in the kitchen and dining areas.

For the rest of the home, which consists of more private areas, bedrooms and bathrooms, Jonathan wanted to create a sense of serenity and intimacy for the homeowner – and Resene Tasman fit the bill. The street façade was also freshened up with Resene Rice Cake, a warm off-white, which Jonathan likes for its delicacy.

To provide a sense of peace and serenity, Jonathan picked Resene Tasman for the master bedroom.

“Designing with a mix of heritage and new architecture always provides challenges,” he says, “but we love finding solutions and working within these parameters.”

Jonathan added that colour is a great ally when approaching these type of projects. “It can lift certain restraints, allowing creativity to flow, make connections between old and new, and allow a small space to have defined purposes.

“We used all these colour tools within this project to ensure our clients loved their new home.”

Resene Rice Cake on the façade of the villa looks fresh while respecting the heritage of the home.

See more gorgeous work from Jonathan and his team on Matter Architects’ website.

designer Jonathan Smith, John Holley, Matter Architects
photosSimon Devitt