There’s something romantic about water views and sunsets. Perhaps it is for this reason one Hamilton couple bought a tired 1980’s clinker brick house overlooking Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa in 2013. Mere months after they moved in they engaged architect Evan Mayo to totally transform the comfortable - yet dated - home into a contemporary abode of renewed beauty.

Brought for its good bones and sensational lake views, the owners were reluctant to ‘knock it down and build again’- the fate of several established lakeside homes in recent times. Having worked successfully with the architect on their holiday home, their brief to Mayo was to improve the curb appeal and the layout of the existing house. Central to the owners requirements was increasing the amount of natural light within the home and to expand their views of the lake from the kitchen and living areas. With these parameters in mind, Mayo has weaved his magic reconfiguring and upgrading the house.

Taking on the challenge of a largely fixed footprint, the first step was to raise the head heights of the windows, increasing natural light into the house and improving the sites best asset – the majestic lake views. The architect has sharpened the overall aesthetic of the house by modernising the exterior materials and modifying the existing roof profile. Another deft decision has been shifting the internal staircase and utilising a new steel frame to completely open up the first-floor living areas.

This improves the flow between living/dining spaces and impressively creates a new view of the lake which can be seen right through the house and rear courtyard. The most successful renovations are ones where new and old work together seamlessly. By keeping to the original scale, the architect has succeeded in completely modernizing the entire property, creating a spacious, light warm home that makes the most of its strongest asset, its serene lakeside location.