Ngaio · Wellington · 2024
Structural
Rebuild &
Heritage
Restoration
A 1920s railway cottage in Ngaio — not touched in 60 years. Keen Builders brought it back.
The Challenge
A 1920s Cottage That Hadn't Been Touched in 60 Years
The client came to Keen Builders with a severely run-down 1920s railway cottage in Ngaio that had not been renovated for approximately 60 years. The home had reached a point of serious degradation — failing paint systems, poor structural integrity and materials that were both unsafe and non-compliant.
Rather than demolish the home, the goal was to restore, strengthen and future-proof the building while transforming it into a modern, warm, open-plan family home that respected the original heritage character.
Key Objectives
- Full structural strengthening and re-stabilisation
- Major layout transformation — closed rooms to open-plan
- Removal of unsafe and degraded materials
- Heritage restoration of external and internal character features
- Long-term durability and energy efficiency
- Strong indoor–outdoor connection to the backyard
Phase 1
Structural Strengthening
Due to the age and condition of the building, the project began with major structural remediation. Large sections of the house were re-piled to correct long-term subsidence, and engineered slab systems were installed in key open-plan areas to provide uplift restraint.
Large beams and posts were integrated back into the existing structure to stabilise the building envelope — allowing the project to progress with confidence on a solid foundation.
Internal Strengthening
Full strip-out of degraded materials, structural re-strengthening, new structural beams, engineered slab systems, major layout reconfiguration to open-plan living.
Floor Joisting
Both bathrooms and the kitchen were fully re-floor joisted to accommodate tiled floor loads and ensure long-term durability.
Phase 2
Interior Transformation
With the structure secured, the full interior transformation began. All non-safe and non-compliant materials were removed and replaced with modern, high-quality finishes throughout.
Engineered oak flooring was installed across the home, along with full interior linings, plastering, painting and finishing works. The home was insulated head-to-toe and fitted with a full ducted heat pump system — creating a warm, energy-efficient living environment throughout all seasons.
Phase 3
Exterior & Heritage Restoration
The exterior envelope of the home was restored to reflect its original heritage character. This was one of the most important aspects of the project — preserving the charm and character of the 1920s cottage while making it structurally sound and weathertight.
Traditional verandas were reinstated and ornate heritage detailing was replicated throughout, including window trims, ceiling trims, scotias, architraves and period-correct finishing details. New concrete driveways and pathways completed the exterior transformation.
Heritage Veranda
Full reconstruction of the original veranda with period-correct detailing and materials.
Heritage Detailing
Window trims, ceiling trims, scotias, architraves and ornate finishing throughout.
Challenges & Solutions
How We Solved the Hard Problems
Required careful structural assessment and staged works to maintain integrity throughout the build. We worked methodically through each phase to avoid compromising the parts of the structure already completed.
Solved through smart reconfiguration rather than a full rebuild — opening up closed rooms to create the open-plan living the client wanted without requiring additional resource consent.
Coordinated multi-trade sequencing to avoid delays and rework — ensuring plumbers, electricians, tilers and finishing trades all worked in the right order on the right schedule.
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Renovation – Case Study
Project Overview
Location: Ngaio, Wellington
Project Type: Full Residential Renovation
Client Objective: Modernise and future-proof an older family home while improving layout, functionality, energy efficiency, and long-term durability.
This Ngaio renovation focused on transforming an outdated home into a modern, warm, functional living space while retaining the character of the original structure. The project involved structural upgrades, internal reconfiguration, full interior modernisation, and coordinated subcontractor delivery to ensure a high-quality finished result.
Client Brief
The client’s brief was to transform a severely run-down 1920s railway cottage that had not been renovated for approximately 60 years. The home had reached a point of serious degradation, with failing paint systems, poor structural integrity.
Rather than demolish the home, the goal was to restore, strengthen, and future-proof the building, while transforming it into a modern, warm, open-plan family home that respected the original heritage character.
Key objectives included:
Full structural strengthening and re-stabilisation
Major layout transformation from closed rooms to open-plan living
Removal of unsafe and degraded materials
Heritage restoration of external and internal character features
Long-term durability and energy efficiency
Creating a strong indoor–outdoor connection to the backyard
Internal Strengthening
Full internal strip-out of degraded materials
Extensive structural re-strengthening
Installation of new structural beams
Engineered slab systems for uplift restraint
Major layout reconfiguration to open-plan living
Re-joisting of both bathrooms and kitchen areas for tiled floor loading
Internal envelope
Removal of all non-safe and non-compliant materials
Interior linings, plastering, painting, and finishing
Long-term durability and energy efficiency
Full insulation (floor, wall, and ceiling)
Exterior envelope
Exterior envelope restoration
Heritage veranda reconstruction
Heritage detailing: window trims, ceiling trims, scotias, architraves, and ornate finishing
New concrete driveways and pathways
Challenges & Solutions
Older home structure: Required careful structural assessment and staged works to maintain integrity.
Layout limitations: Solved through smart reconfiguration rather than full rebuild.
Service upgrades: Coordinated multi-trade sequencing to avoid delays and rework.
Internal Strengthening
Due to the age and condition of the building, the project began with major structural remediation. Large sections of the house were re-piled to correct long-term subsidence, and engineered slab systems were installed in key open-plan areas to provide uplift restraint. large beams and posts were integrated back into the existing structure to stabilise the building envelope.
Internal envelope
Both bathrooms and the kitchen were fully re-floor joisted to accommodate tiled floor loads and long-term durability.
Engineered oak flooring was installed across the home, along with full interior linings, plastering, painting, and finishing works, delivering a high-quality.
The home was insulated head-to-toe and fitted with a full ducted heat pump system, creating a warm, energy-efficient, and comfortable living environment throughout all seasons.
Exterior envelope
The exterior envelope of the home was restored to reflect its original heritage character. This included reinstating traditional verandas and replicating ornate heritage detailing such as window trims, ceiling trims, scotias, architraves, and period-correct finishing details.
Project Results
The Ngaio renovation successfully transformed the home into a modern, comfortable family living space that balances contemporary design with practical functionality. The result is a future-proofed home that meets modern living standards while retaining the warmth and character expected in a Wellington family home.