Tree Villa

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt

TREE VILLA

Matter

ARCHITECTS
Matter

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Jonathan Smith, John Holley, Phil Howat

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Structural design solutions

LANDSCAPER
Ministry of ground

MANUFACTURERS
Douglas and Bec, Halliday+Baillie, Artedomus, Euroceramics, European Ceramics

PHOTOGRAPHS
Simon Devitt

AREA
300 m²

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Auckland, New Zealand

CATEGORY
Houses, Refurbishment

Text description provided by architect.

In a cramped, steep site on one of the busiest residential streets in Ponsonby, Auckland, there was magic to be found in the form of a dilapidated 110-year old heritage villa.

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt

Over two years, the three-bedroom, one-bathroom villa was transformed into a beautiful and functional, family home. 

Fundamental to its success is the sense of tranquillity and respite the villa’s spaces offer from the inner city lifestyle that the clients love.

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt

A favourite place to relax, rewind, and re-invigorate is this spa-like bathroom. Carving out portions of the villa, adding masonry wall structures, and substantial retaining facilitated the addition of a new downstairs floor.

Moving down the gently-lit stairwell of the main floor, the first room encountered downstairs is the bathroom. High windows maintain natural warmth, privacy, and light on entry, while further in the room becomes subterranean, generating a sense of privacy, cosiness, and sanctuary.

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt

Polished heated concrete floors provide additional warmth and a solid grounded feeling. For the first time in New Zealand Statuario Fleur oversized panels were used as wall lining, providing a serene quality to the bathroom’s perimeter walls.

Concrete walls provide the solid backing to the panels and aid noise reduction. The considerable size of the panels create the feeling that the bathroom is carved from solid marble.

These soft porcelain panels ensure that the space is filled with gentle diffuse light and feels intimate, warm, and luxurious.

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt

The hanging WC is hidden behind a mosaic marble feature wall. Alarti Marble tiles are used on the feature wall to provide a delicate contrast to other elements, and to draw attention inwards toward the free-standing stone bath.

This unique egg-shaped bath provides a sculpted centerpiece to the room. On the flip side of the WC, a walk-in shower offers the reinvigorating experience of warm rainfall. All joinery and cabinetry elements are framed in black including the mirrors. This provides a visual direction to these elements.

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt

The slipped break between mirrors highlights the shifting levels within the home and the external window. Lighting options, including recessed LEDs within the ceiling space add to the feeling of intimacy and calm.

While the room imbues a feeling of being transported from one world to another, the harmonious use of materials throughout the villa provides seamlessness and comfort to the senses.

The minimalist approach to surfaces and joinery further reduces unnecessary stimulation, while maintaining a sense of luxury. Generous storage makes the space practical and self-contained.

Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt


Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt


Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt
Tree Villa
© Simon Devitt


Tree Villa
Level 0 + Level 1 Plan
Tree Villa
Second Floor + Roof Plan