2025
Secret Garden
Western Springs Bungalow Renovation
A bungalow renovation in Western Springs — a project that reveals almost nothing from the street, but rewards those who step inside with something quietly extraordinary. Tucked away in Auckland's Western Springs, adjacent to Grey Lynn and Westmere, the house had an established and flourishing garden at the rear — but a front yard that sat unused, overlooked, and almost entirely north-facing. We recognised the opportunity immediately. By introducing a new pool and sheltered outdoor area into that north-facing front space, with planting woven through the design from the outset, we transformed the least-used part of the property into its most sun-drenched and most-loved.
The Secret Garden concept
Early in the design process, the idea of secrecy evolved from metaphor into something more playful and literal. Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved novel, the concept began with a desire to create a hidden oasis — a space that feels both personal and protected. We translated the words Secret Garden into Morse code and used it as a laser-cut pattern for the pergola roof. This subtle detail casts delicate shadows and creates a beautiful interplay of light — a poetic nod to the name and narrative behind the space.
The bungalow alterations
Within the bungalow itself, the alterations were considered and purposeful. The entry to the house was redesigned with a generous new stair and entry porch — giving the home a proper arrival moment that had previously been missing. A new flexi-space was created adjacent to the pool, connecting the interior of the bungalow directly to the outdoor area and allowing the boundary between inside and out to dissolve on warm days. At the front of the property, a large garage doubles as a second flexi-space — generous enough to serve as a workshop, studio, or overflow entertaining area depending on the season.
Privacy, planting, and material texture
To dissolve the proximity to the street, a soft layer of planting precedes the fence, forming a natural buffer and setting a calming tone before you arrive. The concrete shell of the pool extends on two sides to provide privacy, and these extensions are lined in green mosaic tiles — a textural reference to foliage, reinforcing the garden-like atmosphere and blurring the boundary between built form and nature. This project is about more than architecture — it is about storytelling, sensory experience, and the quiet delight of discovering something unexpected.
A new entry stair, a generous porch, and a flexi-space connecting bungalow to pool — a considered rethink of how the house is arrived at and lived in
A new pool and sheltered outdoor area were introduced, with planting woven into the design from the outset, so it feels like it has always been there
A north-facing front yard, previously unused — transformed into the most sun-drenched part of the property
ecret Garden in Morse code, laser-cut into the pergola roof — casting shadows and telling a story in light
Renovating a bungalow or character home in Western Springs, Grey Lynn, or the wider Auckland area?
If you have an underused part of your property that could become the best part, or a bungalow that needs a considered rethink of its entry and outdoor connection, we would love to talk about what is possible. Get in touch to start the conversation, or browse more bungalow renovation projects for inspiration.
Photography
Simon Wilson
