'Unique’ 1960s McCoy home having floor added

A nod to the old, which is actually new, will be part of the future for a striking Dunedin home.

The home at 30 Smith St in central Dunedin, which has striking 360° views across Dunedin, is to have a storey added.

The home was designed by renowned Dunedin architect Ted McCoy in the early 1960s and for a long time was the home of Dunedin School of Medicine professor Graham Mortimer.

But he moved north and its new owner, architect Simon Parker, is making changes.

But it will be far from a strip-out and will stay loyal to its modernist roots.

"When Ted McCoy originally built it, he did it in quite a modern style. So you know, we’re very much carrying his philosophy through into the new development of it," Mr Parker said.

The outside would remain in concrete blocks, although new wiring and insulation would be installed.

"It’s quite a unique property. It’s actually got a really nice garden that the previous owners developed while they lived there. There’s quite a lot of sort of green features going in.There’ll be solar panels on the roof and high-stack new glazing going in and a lot of insulation."

He said the views were stunning.

"You can see right through to Mt Cargill. You obviously see the harbour. You can look out to St Kilda. And you can actually see about six or eight different churches all from there.

"It really showcases the heritage buildings of Dunedin."

Designing the new home on the top level meant increased pressure.

"I carry on his [McCoy’s] sort of philosophy of building and we also think it’s sympathetic to the existing building and to that context in the CBD.

"But it’s a great row of buildings all around there, down Tennyson St and looking down to Moray Pl."

It would be relatively easy to add the extra storey, he said.

He and his partner, Anna Wilson, would live on the top floor and each of the two floors below would have two one-bedroom apartments and there would be a half-floor basement on the bottom, which would be for family.

"We’ve been on the lookout for quite a few years, and when that came up, yeah, it really caught our eye. It’s been a great design journey working out how we can extend up and really maximise some of the views from the site."

He hoped to have it finished by April next year, he said. He declined to reveal the cost of the project.