A 114 year old villa is the latest character house in Lower Hutt to be moved by development but it hardly goes anywhere – just 11 meters away.
The five-bedroom house in Britannia St, Lower Hutt, will be positioned closer to the road so that the land can be subdivided and another family home built at the rear of the section.
Interest in the Britannia St project was such that owners Carl and Merran Bakker, who bought the house in 1981, put up a billboard outside to reassure locals that their much-loved 1908 Queen-Anne style villa largely remained. stand.
“People came by and asked us what was wrong with the house. A lady told us she couldn’t sleep because she was thinking about it,” said Carl Bakker.
READ MORE:
* Renovation power couple gives grand old Christchurch villa a glamorous makeover
* Dilapidated Herne Bay Villa Sells For $8 Million And Won’t Be Demolished
* The secrets of renovating a characterful home
Petone’s historic homes have recently come under scrutiny – some residents have complained about the loss of the characterful homes to development, while others have opposed Hutt City Council’s suggestions that their streets could become heritage zones.
Other villas on Britannia St have been sold for multi-unit townhouse developments in the past 18 months, including one next door.
MONIQUE FORD/Things
There was so much concern about the fate of Carl and Merran Bakker’s villa in Britannia St that the couple put up a billboard to tell neighbors it was staying put.
But the Bakkershuis is being lifted on rails and put on new piles.
“It’s the family home – we raised our boys in the house, so we obviously like it. It’s nice to keep a piece of heritage.”
It will undergo a full renovation before one of the couple’s sons moves in with their family. Carl and Merran build a new house for themselves and a self-contained unit at the back of the section.
The house is on one of the heritage lists on the district plan of the municipality.
MONIQUE FORD/Things
The Bakker’s bought the 1908 house in 1981.
Kate Harford of Hark Architects said the project was interesting and unusual.
“People love villas – they love the character and people who can will do their best to keep them. [The Bakkers] save a home of character and a piece of heritage people love in Wellington, and repurpose the site for intergenerational living.”
The old villa was in good hands with builder Grant Molloy, who specialized in historic homes, Harford said.