Seear-Budd Ross have been engaged to work alongside the clients on a sensitive restoration and renovation to this prominent, heritage listed, home in Remuera.

The home is named ‘Awatea’ which means ‘the dawn of a new day.’ Awatea was designed by Roy Keith Binney in 1924. Historically the home has been renovated and extended through several phases of long-term ownership, with a major addition completed in the 1990s.  The brief from the current owners is to support and refresh the heritage aspects and to sensitively renovate unoriginal areas to enhance comfort and utility and to provide resilience and protection.

Born in Auckland on 13th April 1885 Roy Keith Binney was the 10th and youngest child of George William Binney and his wife, Mary Mather. The Binney family were a prominent family in Auckland due to their auctioneering firm G.W Binney and Sons. G.W Binney and Sons dealt in wood, hides and Kauri gum. Roy attended King’s College in Auckland from 1899 to 1903. In May 1908 Roy embarked on a journey to England to study Architecture.

As is evidenced in the original images of Awatea Binney’s work is noted for its feeling of space, skillful detailing, his elegant colour choices and careful pairing of materials. It is noted that several of his works featured shingle cladding contrasting with brickwork. He also often opted for strong roof lines with prominent monolithic chimneys anchoring the home and dominating the exterior; a strategy often employed by Lutyens.