A beautiful blend of heritage features and contemporary living
Albany Road
Location: Ponsonby, Auckland
Property Type: 1904 Heritage Villa
Project Scope: Rear extension and full renovation of existing villa
When the family at 9 Albany Road approached us, their initial plan was modest — a simple lean-to extension at the rear to create an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. But as we collaborated with Nala Design Studios, the project evolved into a complete transformation, addressing both the home’s dysfunctional layout and its diminished heritage character.
Over the decades, the villa had been altered multiple times, the most recent being a conversion into two separate flats. The front deck had been enclosed to form a small bedroom and separate entrance, leaving a fractured interior of small rooms, two inefficient kitchens, and lost heritage detailing. Our role was to produce a functional home to help with the chaos of family life, and to reinstate the original façade, traditional proportions, and character features in keeping with Ponsonby’s heritage streetscape, as required under Auckland Council Resource Consent.
To manage the expanded brief, the build was completed in stages so the family could remain living on site with their young children. We established a fully functional temporary kitchen and maintained consistent communication throughout construction, ensuring comfort and minimal disruption.
The finished home now embodies timeless villa charm blended with contemporary family living. Inside, high ceilings and refined detailing preserve the gracious proportions of the heritage structure, while the new extension provides a bright, modern social hub. The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space flows effortlessly to the outdoors, oriented north and northwest to capture natural light from morning through to late afternoon. Designed for connection and flexibility, it’s a space that supports everything from everyday breakfasts to relaxed weekend gatherings.
The result is a beautifully cohesive family home — respectful of its history yet perfectly attuned to modern life in the heart of Ponsonby.
Jade ZHANG
“We had a wonderful experience working with Matt and the team at BBM Construction. Matt is an excellent communicator, he is reliable and transparent so you always know what was happening.
He also offered great flexibility to work around our needs as a family.
BBM Construction provides a premium service and is worth every penny.”