We also didn't photograph it the first day when the roof was right off so this stage is the only "before" picture we have.
These pages will hopefully describe and record pictorially the process
of the completion and renovation of Michael and Shonagh Hopkirks House
at Ackworth Road about 20 Km (1Km==0.625mi, about 12 miles)
from New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
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We didn't see the empty site and we didn't see the original
house. We also didn't photograph it the first day when the roof was right off so this stage is the only "before" picture we have. |
The house was originally at 71 Argyle St Hawera and was known as
"The Old Manse" presumably because it was on the street across from
the Anglican church. Its uncertain (to us at least) when it was originally
built - guesses put it at the late 19th Century or early 20th.
It is a fairly traditional style New Zealand Villa with a few uncommon
features, key being the windowed protrusion on the formal parlor
(most villas are of a somewhat simpler style - L shape around a box center).
The interior is pretty traditional: high stud (3m), rimu/matai panelling,
large narrowish windows, solid wood trim around door openings, stained glass
hilights in some of the windows, fretwork trim as exterior wall brackets.
The building was bought at tender by Peter Robertson of Koncept
Lifestyle Developments (who is our builder/developer). It was cut in
half, the roof removed (remove corrugated iron and collapse rafters)
and moved in two pieces up to its current site on Ackworth Road just
out of Lepperton (North East of New Plymouth).
On site it was joined
back together onto new piles on a section that Peter also owned and
the roof replaced.
Then we came along, saw it and brought in.
Peters business moves houses and redevelops them.
Depending on the buyers wishes and finances, he will take them to any
stage from resite and pile,
through to completely finished and
renovated with consequent adjustment in sale prices.
He has done a large number of houses in this manner around Lepperton.
Our one is being completed to an intermediate stage before completion
that is 'code of compliant'.
We (the ngati Hopkirk whanau) will do the finishing work ourselves....