Despite its reputation for gentility, Remuera in Tāmaki Makaurau has its fair share of mid-century houses – though few are as special as this late-1950s bungalow reworked by SGA’s Dave Strachan just over a decade ago.
The original appeal is obvious. Located down a long, sinewy driveway, overlooking a lush glade of nīkau, it’s sheltered and private. With a wide gable roof, raking ceilings, exposed rafters and a generous brick chimney in the living space, the house had a peaceful air. But it was tired, with few original features left and little outdoor space. The front door was cramped and access to the lower level was via a steep, narrow staircase.
Strachan’s redesign added a new language of yellow-cedar louvres, along with a clarity of space that sought to open the place up to the surrounding glade. He also introduced a generous deck that wraps the living area on three sides.
Extending the brick chimney breast, he created a plastered blade that unites the two levels, and has vastly improved the sense of entry. Now, you approach up a series of floating concrete platforms and into an airy atrium. Stairs lead down to a second living room, study and kitchenette, and upstairs to the main living area.
On the other side of the blade, an outdoor living space with open fire rests under the kicked-up roof. Up the hall, there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. A new garage continues the line of the gable, wrapped in acrylic sheet and cedar louvres. New birch ply cabinetry, dark-stained beams and Victorian ash flooring honour the house’s origins but still feel fresh. After 14 years, the owners are on the move – fittingly, to another Strachan renovation.
Glade House
18 Te Kowhai Place Remuera, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
