Architech Designs has designed and consented home extensions across Auckland, including the North Shore, West Auckland, South Auckland, East Auckland, and the Franklin District. We work on all types of residential extensions, including rear extensions that expand living areas, ground-floor side extensions that add bedrooms or utility rooms, first-floor additions that add accommodation above the existing footprint, garage additions and conversions, and sleepout or minor dwelling additions. Each project type has its own design considerations and consent requirements, and we have the experience to manage them all efficiently.
One of the most important aspects of extension design is the connection between the existing house and the new addition. A poorly designed extension can feel disconnected from the rest of the house, create awkward circulation, or disrupt the natural light to existing rooms. We take great care with these connections to make sure the extended home works as a whole, not as an original house with something added on. This means thinking carefully about how the new spaces relate to the existing spaces, how the roof lines will work together, how materials and finishes can be used to create continuity, and how the new floor levels will connect with the existing structure.
Extensions involving first-floor additions are more complex than ground-floor extensions because they typically require structural modifications to the existing building, including strengthening of foundations, floors, and walls to carry the additional load. We coordinate with a licensed structural engineer on these projects to ensure the structural design is appropriate and that the engineering drawings and calculations are included in the consent application. The structural coordination is managed by us so you are not dealing with the engineer directly.
For older homes, particularly those built before the 1970s, there are often additional considerations around materials and construction methods. Homes that contain asbestos-containing materials, for example, require careful management during any work that disturbs those materials. We flag these issues during the design process and advise on the appropriate approach so there are no surprises for your builder when construction begins.
