There were 4 identical historically listed cottages in a row in Footscray Avenue in central Wellington. The most northerly of the cottages was mostly destroyed by fire and years of neglect. After much negotiation with the WCC and Heritage NZ a new cottage was built in place of the old one, giving resolution and new life to the area. The exterior matches the original cottages exactly and the interior is laid out similarly, with 2 bedrooms to the south and living space to the north, but with the addition of a multipurpose loft area that can function as a study or overflow bedroom, and with a small private west facing courtyard. The resulting living space isn’t large, but feels generous, sunny, lofty and light.

Effort was made to build to modern codes for central city housing, acoustic separation, high levels of insulation etc while still appearing as a turn of the century cottage.

Photographer Paul McCredie