Greenhithe Family Residence

The First New Zealand Project

This home in Greenhithe holds a special place in Serguei's New Zealand practice. It was the first project he took on independently after establishing his Auckland studio in 2002, and it set the tone for everything that followed.

The clients came with a clear brief and an unusual ask. They wanted a home that met all their functional requirements, but they also wanted something more. A house with a soul. A home that did not feel like every other home on the street.

The design responded with a layout built around moments of surprise and discovery. Nothing about this house is predictable.

• Location: 29 Wicklam Lane, Greenhithe, Auckland
• Year: 2002
• First independent project of Serguei's NZ practice
• Two storeys, deliberately complex spatial layout
• Includes granny flat, home office, internal courtyard garden, and commissioned stained-glass windows

A House That Begins With a Choice

Walking through the front door of this home, you immediately face a decision. The entryway opens onto a crossroads. Directly ahead, a staircase rises to the first floor. To the right, three steps lead down to the home office and the granny flat. To the left, the route carries you into the kitchen, the adjoining dining room, and the open living space beyond.

Most homes route you through a single predictable path from entrance to living room. This one offers options. The layout was deliberately complex, designed to give the house character from the very first second a visitor steps inside.

Ground Floor: Public and Private Spaces, Together

The dining room flows directly onto an outdoor terrace, while the kitchen connects to a two-car garage for everyday practicality. The granny flat on the same level gives extended family their own space, with the office nearby offering a quiet retreat from the rest of the home.

Upper Floor: Family Zones in Both Wings

The first floor divides into two distinct wings. The right wing belongs to the children: two bedrooms and a large shared bathroom. The left wing is the parents' domain, with a master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and a private bathroom. Every bedroom in the house opens onto its own balcony.

Above the entry hall sits a study with an unexpected feature: a small private terrace built into the centre of the roof. A quiet outdoor retreat at the heart of the home.

The Soul of the House

The clients asked for a home with a soul, and Serguei delivered it through details that go beyond standard residential design. An internal courtyard garden sits within the house itself, bringing greenery into the interior. The hallway windows are stained glass, commissioned from a local artist and designed specifically for this home.

This is what the clients meant by something more. Not bigger rooms or more bedrooms. Specific, considered details that make the house unmistakably theirs.