a labourofloveforbothitsowners.Irishwarveteran
GeraldBoxspent 12 yearsbuildingthehome,making
theblockworkhimselfandpouringthecastin-situ
concrete.“HehadpreviouslybuiltanArtsandCrafts-
styledwellinga coupleofstreetsover,”saysDaniel.Box
lefthismarkinmanyways,includingtheshamrocks
embeddedintheparapet,ascut-outsandimprintson
allfoursidesofthehouse.
ThefirstphaseoftheSullivans’redevelopmentof
thethree-bedroomhousewasessentiallya restoration
project,whichtooktwoyears.Afewtreasureswere
foundalongtheway,includingrimufloorsandthe
castin-situceilingthathadbeenhidingbehind
plasterboardfordecades.“Youcouldsayit hasbeen
aprojectsincethe40s,”saysDaniel.
Typicalofitsera,it wasuninsulatedandorientated
slightlythewrongway,butit didhavestructural
integrity.Thecoupletidiedupthefloorboards,re-ran
wiringandservices,fibreglassedtheroof,installed
newwindows,strengthened,insulated,strappedand
linedwallsandinstalledcentralheating.Theconcrete
exteriorwassand-blastedanda high-performingpaint
appliedforprotectioninthecoastalenvironment.The
single-cargaragewasconvertedtoa studioandpotting
space.TheSullivansdownedtoolsjustintimeforthe
arrivaloftheirfirstbaby,whoisnowfouryearsold.
Thesecondstagebeganinlate 2017 andtookjust
overa year.Andthisiswherethingsgettechnical
andinteresting.Thehousehasbeenpoppedupthe
toptocontainthemainbedroom,ensuiteanda roof
terrace.This20-square-metreadditioniswrapped
inpre-finishedaluminiumpanels– elegantlyfolded
likeorigami– chosentoworkinwiththebrickwork
beneath,bothinproportionandpattern.Thenorth-
westfacingendofthepop-upisa glasswall;the
south-westfacingslideroffersviewsupthevalley.
There’sanabundanceoflight,whichstreamsinto
thebedroomandbathroomthroughskylightsand
glazing,yetthere’sprivacyfromneighbouringhomes.
Ona clearnight,there’sanendlessskyforstargazing.
Ontheterrace,Teddingtonchip,a localstone,islaid
betweenwalkwaysandskylights,whichdroplightinto
the library and Beau’s bedroom (the former kitchen).
LeftKateandBeau
Sullivanattheisland
bench.The‘14.7’
pendantbyBocci
is from Matisse.
AboverightThe
cantilevered8mm-steel
stairswerefabricated
asonepieceand
cranedintoplace.RightKateandArton
the‘Braid’rugfrom
Armadillo& Co.From
anold,coldhouseto
onethat’swarmand
dry,Katesayswatching
herbabylearntocrawl
ona warmflooris just
oneofthemanyjoys
they’veexperienced
in the home.HOME NEW ZEALAND 103