Traditional Timber Windows and Doors for a Herne Bay Home
Bespoke joinery carrying the character of the original home into a modern rebuild
Rebuilding a character home creates an opportunity to improve the way it functions without losing the details that gave the original property its identity.
For this waterfront home in Herne Bay, the objective was to create a modern family residence while retaining the traditional character of the house that came before it. The new home combines contemporary living with carefully considered architectural details that give it an established sense of place.
PK Joinery manufactured all of the exterior timber joinery for the project, including windows, doors and a distinctive circular window, as well as timber shutters throughout the home.
Built by Mark Lindsay Construction and designed by Christian Anderson Architects, the project demonstrates how bespoke timber joinery can help carry traditional character into an entirely new home.
Project imagery courtesy of Mark Lindsay Construction mlcbuild.nz.
Project highlights
Challenge
Creating new exterior joinery that reflected the character and detailing of the original home
Scope
Exterior timber windows and doors, including a custom circular window, plus timber shutters
Design
Traditional detailing incorporated throughout a modern waterfront family home
Outcome
Bespoke timber joinery that gives the rebuilt home an established sense of character
Challenge
Retaining character through a complete rebuild
When an older home is substantially renovated or rebuilt, its character can easily be lost.
At Herne Bay, retaining that connection with the original property was an important part of the design. While the new home needed to provide the space, comfort and functionality expected of contemporary family living, its exterior still needed to feel appropriate to the established character of the property.
Windows and doors play a significant role in achieving that balance.
Their proportions, configurations and detailing influence the appearance of an entire elevation, making bespoke timber joinery particularly valuable when a standard contemporary solution isn’t appropriate.
Process
Traditional detailing, made for a new home
PK Joinery manufactured the exterior windows and doors specifically for the project.
Across the home, traditional forms and carefully considered detailing help establish a consistent architectural language. Multi-pane windows, detailed surrounds and timber doors contribute to the character of the exterior, while a circular window introduces a more unusual bespoke element.
Curved joinery requires a different level of craftsmanship from conventional square windows. The circular form needs to be accurately manufactured so that what appears as a simple architectural detail in the finished home is clean, balanced and precise.
The project also included custom timber shutters, continuing the use of crafted timber elements inside the home.
Design
Character without compromising contemporary living
The finished residence demonstrates that traditional character and modern living don’t need to be competing ideas.
Behind its established exterior is a home designed to take full advantage of its waterfront site. Generous openings connect the interior with outdoor spaces and views, while the windows and shutters allow timber detailing to remain part of the experience inside the home.
Importantly, the joinery doesn’t attempt to make a new house look artificially old. Instead, it draws on the proportions and detailing associated with the original home and interprets them for a new generation.
Outcome
A new home with an established identity
The Herne Bay project shows the role bespoke timber windows and doors can play when the character of an existing property is worth carrying forward.
Rather than being restricted to standard window and door configurations, custom manufacture allowed the exterior joinery to respond to the specific architectural language of the rebuilt home. The circular window, traditional window detailing, exterior doors and timber shutters each contribute to a result that feels cohesive and considered.
For homeowners rebuilding or extensively renovating a character property, it is an example of how traditional craftsmanship can preserve a sense of identity while still allowing the home itself to evolve.
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