Article: In The Spotlight
The Spotlight Is On ... Heritage Buildings & Homes
Heritage Buildings & Homes have launched a perfect solution to those that crave living in a home of the days-gone-by era through building your desired heritage design meeting your specific lifestyle and comfort needs.
The trend that has made inroads into New Zealand’s urban living areas is to build heritage home replicas. Although it still is a popular property investment to find a ‘D.I.Y.’ existing heritage project and renovate it to a pristine standard, it has proven more cost efficient to construct a new heritage building through opting for a Kit Set Heritage Design.
Heritage Buildings & Homes pride themselves on their design skills and ability to produce high quality Kit Set Buildings that are sympathetic to the wonderful designs of a time gone by. Through incorporating the use of sustainable and affordable products to future proof their Kit Set’s for many future generations to come.
“At Heritage Building & Homes, we believe in the age old philosophy of simplicity. Simplicity of process, choice, design, planning, & construction,” says Keith Mitchell, director and founder of the company. We specialise in recreating buildings from the Pioneer Cottage range, to the 1860 Villa and on to the ornate 1910 Villa, through to the classic retro bungalows of the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
Our plans are true recreations of these eras but built with today’s technical, sophisticated, and modern kitset components along with the easy to understand plans and specifications. You will note the high ceilings - 2.7 meters or 9 feet in the old language, is classic with these homes, along with intricate scroll design skirting boards and architraves around the windows and doors.
We also include the roofed verandas and posts. The Pioneer Cottage has simple post brackets were as the Villa has decorative post brackets and finials to the gable ends. The Bungalow has pairs of posts with splayed weatherboard bottoms, long low swooping roof style, and classic decorative timber shingles to the gables.
Heritage Buildings and Homes are able to supply you with a vast range of bungalow and villa products to enhance and add value to your Kit Set Home.”
Further more, we are able to provide a one-stop service which would include the full package from design, contract, and complete building construction.
What’s Hot At Heritage Buildings & Homes
The Pioneer
The Pioneer style of house built in New Zealand between 1850-1920 were an everyday sight in the golden era of steam and are still common and plentiful in many modern neighbourhoods. Traditionally you will see them in the early mining towns. From $64,987
The Villa
The style of house built in New Zealand during the late 19th and early 20th century. Design arose as the development of New Zealand cities and towns demanded more than the single or two-room cottages of pioneer settlement. From $107,188
The Bungalow
Influenced by international trends, from about 1910 the villa gradually gave way to the bungalow. The bungalow was the most common style of house built in New Zealand from the end of World War 1 to the Great Depression in the 1930s. From $134,397
Q&A With Keith Mitchell From Heritage Buildings & Homes
After such a successful and long established career and reputation with Mitchell Builders, what made you choose to start this new venture with Heritage Building?
The idea of Heritage Building was conceived 3 years ago while making my decision to hand over the reins of Mitchell Builders to my son John. It became apparent that the old style Villa, Cottage and Retro Bungalow was a favourite style of architecture amongst many of our close family and friends and through making further investigation it became apparent that this was the general perception throughout New Zealand. I soon realised my desire to create and construct buildings was still there as my thoughts went into overdrive on how I could provide Heritage Homes for everyone.
In your opinion, what is the point of difference between an existing heritage building versus a newly constructed kitset heritage building?
I have a passion for old homes and buildings and in New Zealand; we do not have enough of them to go around for those who chose to live in one. Due to the urban growth, they are now often in the wrong locations. By deciding to build a new Heritage Home you have the opportunity to choose where you want to build, what style you want to build and i how much you can afford to spend. When complete you have a Heritage Home that looks and feels like an old home but is also new, crisp, and complete with all the advantages of today modern technology.
Would it not be more price advantageous in buying and restoring?
For some being able to own an historic home and building is very important especially if that home is part of the Historic Places Trust. The buying, running and maintenance of such a building is generally quite high and for many can become prohibitive. After the initial outlay of purchasing an old villa the restoration costs to today’s acceptable building and compliance standards has become out of reach for most people. With Heritage Homes we make the process of owning a Villa, bungalow and cottage SIMPLE, affordable. We believe in the age old philosophy of simplicity. Simplicity of process, choice, design, planning & construction. We provide to you the very best building products, materials and componentry at a price that will substantially save you money. Our kitset’s are the ideal option and a wonderful way to save money. You may choose to contract a builder and sub contractors to do the work for you. This can be very rewarding for those with good project management skills. The kitset home is delivered to your site on a pre-determined schedule usually with two or three deliveries in total.
