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Heretaunga residence

Heretaunga, Upper Hutt

The design of the residence is a postmodernist interpretation of the cottage vernacular, and is often referred to as ‘New Colonial Architecture’.

Heretaunga residence

This project is the exterior refurbishment of an existing Craig Craig Moller designed residence, in the suburb of Heretaunga, close to Wellington. The residence originally consisted of a typical 1950s concrete tile and weatherboard cottage. In the 1980s it had an extensive Craig Craig Moller designed extension added to it. As part of the extension work, the original 1950s cottage’s tiled roof was replaced with a corrugated steel one to match the extension.

The design of the residence is a postmodernist interpretation of the cottage vernacular, and is often referred to as ‘New Colonial Architecture’. This type of 1970s-80s residential architecture is now being recognised as a distinctive and important part of New Zealand’s architectural heritage.

Heretaunga residence - lounge

The residence also has a separate studio, which was built in the 1990s above an existing 1970s concrete blockwork double garage. The house extensions and studio are entirely clad in bevel back cedar weatherboards, with a corrugated steel roof. The exterior of the original 1950s part of the house is clad in painted bevel back weatherboards, in a colour to complement the natural cedar.

The cedar cladding on both the 1980s extension, and the 1990s studio had never been stained or painted, so had been left to weather naturally. However due to roof overhangs and exposure to the weather the cedar had developed a very uneven appearance, making the exterior of the house look shabby.

Heretaunga residence interior

The roof and window frames of the entire building had been originally painted in Resene enamel paints when the extensions took place. This original paint had lasted 30 years without needing to be repainted although the vibrancy of the colours had faded and no longer resembled the original colours.

The brief for the exterior was to refresh it and to protect and enhance the look of the existing uneven discoloured cedar weatherboards, by introducing a new colour with the stain. This new colour would also help to tie the different parts of the building together.

Heretaunga residence interior 2

The colours chosen were based as closely as they could be to the original architect’s colour scheme. An alternative colour scheme was investigated, but the original colour scheme worked well with the new colour of the cedar stain. The original colour scheme is still appropriate for the period of the house, and the colours are all natural tones and hues. The colours also fit in well with the large surrounding trees and garden setting. Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain in Resene English Walnut was chosen for the uncoated cedar weatherboards because its tone complements the natural earthy greens of the paint scheme. It is also sufficiently dark to cover the variations in shade of the faded cedar.

The end result makes the house look like a new building, and solves the discolouration problems. It will also help protect the building for years to come.

Heretaunga residence

The biggest challenge was to prepare the roof and unstained cedar weatherboards. Overhanging trees had deposited resins on the roof, which were difficult to remove. The cedar walls and roof were sprayed with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. The roof was then cleaned with a medium pressure waterblaster and small areas of rust primed with Resene Galvo-One solventborne galvanised iron primer before being painted with two coats of Resene Hi-Glo in Resene Lichen. Walls and bargeboards were painted in Resene Peat with Resene Canvas on window and door frames and soffits.

The cedar weatherboards, exterior doors and sashes were scrubbed with a 1:3 solution of Resene Timber and Deck Wash, which was left on for about 15 minutes. The timber was then scrubbed again under a stream of running water. It was left to dry for at least three days before two coats of Resene Woodsman Oil Stain in Resene English Walnut was applied.

The project also included interior refurbishment. As part of the extension work, the original 1950s cottage’s interior layout was heavily modified, with design elements of the new extension extended into the old part of the house to tie it all together. These changes included extending the heart rimu ceilings, and neutral colour scheme of the walls, window frames and rimu skirting into the old cottage, to unify the design throughout the home.

The brief was to freshen the interior with a lighter tone in order to create lighter rooms, but for it to still blend in with the warm natural timbers used for the ceilings and edging. The original colour scheme was very natural with a neutral palette. It included Resene Spanish White walls, which complemented the linseed oiled band sawn heart rimu ceilings, rimu skirtings and edging, and cedar and rimu doors. This mix of natural timber and Resene Spanish White walls gave the interior a warm inviting feeling. Window and door frames were painted natural colours, which also complemented the hues of the natural heart rimu used on the skirtings and trims. All the rooms in the house shared the same colour palette to unify the house and keep it simple.

The owners decided that with the interior refurbishment, they wanted to brighten the interior, without it appearing too stark. Therefore they selected Resene Half Spanish White for the walls, which achieved this. The exterior colours of Resene Peat and Resene Canvas have been carried through into the house by painting both the interior and exterior of the window joinery in the same colours. The original window and door frame colours were reselected, as they complement the natural warm hues of the natural rimu.

The refurbishment largely involved repainting the interior walls, window and door frames and re-oiling of rimu trims and some ceilings.

The owners are art collectors with an eclectic mix of art and furniture, covering the walls throughout the house. Therefore the neutral colour scheme of the neutral walls and rimu ceilings allows for a full range of styles of art, furniture and modern stainless steel kitchen appliances, without any of them looking out of place. The original 1980s rimu kitchen was also rejuvenated with Resene Qristal Polyurethane for a natural waxed appearance, which is hardwearing.

The walls had been painted with Resene Alkyd Flat Spanish White in 1987 and were still in excellent condition. Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Spanish White was used as the replacement.

The end result retains the timeless character of the original interior design and brings the house into the 21st century with its lighter tones, creating brighter rooms.

Architectural specifier: Design Lounge Ltd
Client: Richard and Julie Winder
Interior designer: Design Lounge Ltd
Painting contractor: Steve Owen
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2014

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