Renovation and extension of the existing heritage house at Westmere. The brief here was extend living area preserving the original heritage appearance of the building as it is part of a group of five former State Houses built between 1914 and 1915. Most of the authentic decorative elements such as mouldings, bulk heads, skirtings, gables, and window weights were restored.
Before extension, the challenging task of stabilising the foundation of the existing building was successfully addressed within tight constraints.
Connecting the new part of the house to the new one was a tall order, but we have successfully coped with this task. This distinctive feature of the house is expansive glazing in the extension area, which provides ample natural light and ventilation. This is a substantial re-build of an existing heritage house, blending modern functionality (contemporary ventilation system, Solar Panels, high-end kitchen materials and equipment, Halliday Baillie hardware) with the timeless charm of traditional architecture and breathing new life into this architectural gem.
Timofey is a qualified builder with over 40 years of experience, running a construction business in New Zealand since 2002. He specialises in high-end residential homes, particularly in concrete construction, including aerated and in-situ concrete panels. Timofey is also a Certified Passive House tradesman and helped deliver our first Passive House project in 2021.
For the past 10 years, Igor has led a dedicated team delivering well-crafted, high-performance buildings. Prior to moving to New Zealand, he worked with global multinational companies in the finance sector across Central and South Pacific Asia. At Helicon, Igor oversees project management, contract management, and compliance.
Dasha Tarasova is a NZIA-registered architect specialising in high-end residential design, bringing a refined, design-led approach to her role with the Helicon team. She works closely with architects, consultants, and builders to guide projects from concept through to completion, maintaining a strong focus on spatial quality, proportion, and material expression. Her approach is meticulous and highly collaborative, with particular attention to craftsmanship, weathertightness, and the long-term performance of the building envelope.