| 81 Kelly Deeks Historic villa sensitively transformed The villa is one of five historic brick houses known locally as the Five Sisters. Photos - Simon Wilson Photographer. ARCHITECTURE Studio MYLA “This was the first time we attended the NZIA awards, and to be recognised like this by our peers was incredibly validating.” Wellington’s Studio MYLA has made a powerful statement on the national stage, taking home the Housing - Alterations and Additions award at the 2025 NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards for its deeply personal Berhampore Perimeter House project. The home, designed by Studio MYLA founder and architect Mark Leong for his own young family, has also won two accolades from HERE magazine: 2024 Best House Aotearoa and Reuse & Renovation. Situated on a narrow corner section in Berhampore, the villa is one of five historic brick houses known locally as the Five Sisters, originally built by the owner of the Berhampore Brickworks for his five daughters. When Mark and his wife, interior designer and ceramicist Lucy Coote, bought the property in 2019, it was a compact two-bedroom home. Although charming, it was not quite suitable for their growing family, which then included two-yearold twins, and was not spacious enough to accommodate Lucy’s on-site pottery studio. What followed was a labour of love, and a master class in urban renewal. The couple used their design expertise, honed from years of working on compact housing projects in Sydney, to sensitively restore and extend the 1904 villa. They transformed it into a highly efficient and flexible, 160sqm, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home and studio, while maintaining the character and historic integrity of the site. “This project was an opportunity to design something for ourselves, which is a rare thing in architecture,” Mark says. “It’s incredibly meaningful to live in something that came out of my own head and hands, and to experience it from the client’s perspective.” The design strategy was centred on efficiency, light, and connection to the landscape. The house builds to all boundaries, forming a strong urban edge that defines the street corner. In turn, this bold move creates a secluded, sun-soaked courtyard that opens from the contemporary kitchen and is framed by floor-to-ceiling glazing. A separate studio at the rear, where Lucy creates tableware for her business, Salad Days Ceramics, also doubles as a peaceful workspace and is a nod to the site’s brick-making heritage. The original double-bay villa remains largely intact, with a soft transition between old and new. Internally, Mark and Lucy designed every element with purpose, from built-in furniture crafted by Lucy’s father, to a dining table made from reclaimed rimu, saved by Mark’s parents. Materials are simple, with brick, galvanised steel, and laminate cabinetry, yet elevated through thoughtful detailing and layout. Studio MYLA’s design ethos of generosity, robustness, urbanity, and joy is evident throughout the project. The practice sees its role as creatively navigating complex constraints to produce architecture that feels both grounded and aspirational. This project exemplifies the philosophy. It’s a modest home made remarkable through considered design. “This was the first time we attended the NZIA awards, and to be recognised like this by our peers was incredibly validating,” Mark says. “The HERE magazine awards were another proud moment, and it’s energised us to keep pushing for design that’s clever, sensitive, and full of heart.” Studio MYLA’s portfolio spans residential alterations, interiors, new houses, and special commercial projects with the goal of expanding into multi-residential and public domain work, but Berhampore Perimeter House may be its most personal project yet. This is a home where the architect, his family, and his design values live in harmony. Residential New Home Builds, Renovations, Additions & Alterations, Landscaping, Roofing, Outdoor Living Spaces and Concrete Area Solutions Get the best carpentry services for your home build or renovation from Perry Barber Carpentry. Servicing the greater Wellington region 021 633 037 | www.perrybarber.co.nz Your Local Aluminium& uPVCWindow & Door Specialists for over 30 Years vantage.co.nz E: info@ewnz.nz P: 564 9669 Showroom: Open Mondays to Fridays - 8am to 4pm
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