A grand Italianate home built with a glass floor

“There was an existing house and we were given the building consent with an empty section,” explains Ben Lewis from Lewis Build. The clients originate from Italy, and wanted the home to resemble the architecture of that part of the world.

The project started by stabilising the three neighbouring properties: “We had to retain the house behind and the two on either side. We had to drill concrete piles down to retain the earth and to not disturb the neighbouring properties while we constructed the basement.”

With a total of 65 piles at 10 to 12 metres deep, Ben says the scale of this project more closely resembled a commercial build compared to a standard residential build.

The basement was cut four metres into the natural ground level, before the rest of the home’s levels followed.

There are many benefits of masonry homes, including energy efficiency, fire protection and less maintenance required. It also proved to be the perfect canvas for the StoArmat Render System. Reinforced with glass fibre mesh and finished with Stolit finishing render, this is an organic, cement-free and breathable, high-impact render with high crack resistance.

To achieve the curves and arches reminiscent of those seen along the Mediterranean coastline, a large selection of exterior moulding products from Accumen Shapes were used.

With a high level of detail required for this project, the company was engaged early on to bring the exterior aesthetic to life, alongside Allied Exteriors – the plasterers and mouldings installers.

Customisation of the mouldings was required. In particular, the balusters for the balustrades needed to be lightweight, while replicating solid concrete. This was similar for the arches, dentils and corbels, columns, cornices and fence caps used through the build, also supplied by Accumen Shapes.

Inspired by a traditional Italian garden, the landscaping is manicured and formal in design with symmetrical garden beds and geometric paving surrounding the in-ground pool.

This same attention to detail is on display throughout the expansive interior of the home.

The family’s main kitchen – designed by Robyn Labb Kitchens – dining and living area is set on the ground floor with dark-stained oak hardwood flooring from TFS Flooring. Bringing contrast to the space are white shaker-style kitchen cabinets; the five-metre long island bench topped with marble, which has room for seating, is ideal for the family to gather around at meal times. Nearby is a scullery with an additional sink, Miele oven and integrated dishwasher.

A statement chandelier defines the dining space, with a unique architectural detail found in the lounge area: a glass floor.

“A reinforced concrete floor had to be set up so that the glass was rebated flush with the oak flooring,” says Ben. “It looks through to the carpark area, so it gives natural light to the basement and it’s just a wow factor when you walk in and you’re able to walk over it.”

Mirroring the curves of the exterior, the doors in this space are all Low E Xcel Double Glaze Glass from Metro Performance Glass – also continued throughout the rest of the home.

A covered balcony and outdoor eating space extends from here, complete with a barbecue cooking area and stunning views over the water.

The outlook can also be enjoyed from the remaining two levels of the home – both a grand staircase with cast iron balustrades and a lift giving access between the four storeys.

Carefully selected marble tiles and benchtops are showcased in the seven bathrooms – each unique in design.

The top floor is complete with its own kitchenette with mirrored splashback and a dining and living area that overlooks Rangitoto.

Work for this project commenced in April 2019 and was completed in time for the family to enjoy Christmas there in 2021. While there weren’t too many material delays, there were periods of time that the team couldn’t be on site due to the pandemic lockdown restrictions.

The end result speaks for itself, though, and the family has even held a wedding reception there. Lewis Build was also awarded House of the Year 2022's Regional Gold award for the project.

“This was a once in a lifetime project,” says Ben.

Explore more projects by Lewis Build on ArchiPro.

Words by Cassie Birrer