VALLEY HOUSE

In the Auckland suburb of Remuera, architects Keshaw McArthur combine old and new to breathe new life into a classic Victorian villa.

OLD AND NEW

Keshaw McArthur wanted to retain the character of the villa, and complement it with an addition sympathetic to its original style to create a peaceful space that flows between old and new. It required a pared back approach and constant questioning of essentials to explore how kitchen appliances could both function and be presented in their purest form.

designer kitchen with black marble surfaces

Project Type: Suburban Home

Location: Remuera, Auckland

Architect: Keshaw McArthur

Photographer: Simon Wilson

THE DISTRIBUTED KITCHEN

The clients needed a large number of products, including multiple ovens and a coffee machine. The architects realized the idea of a free-flowing kitchen by using Fisher & Paykel's premium integrated kitchen appliances alongside those with a minimalist, all-black design, and distributing them between the kitchen and pantry to enhance function while reducing visual detail. The kitchen-dining area extends out to a pool terrace. A powerful DCS Grill, sheltered by an overhead canopy, extends the home's cooking capacity to the outdoors, regardless of the season.

Side view from the kitchen looking out towards the living room

A PLACE TO GATHER

Conceived as a gathering place for the family of five and their friends, the kitchen abandons a conventional design and instead revolves around two monolithic stone islands lit from above by a skylight, a black glass screen acting as a veil between the otherwise open butler's pantry, while the perimeter is warmed by timber.