Upstairs Downstairs style returns to Devonport

Photo / NZH

A wealthy Russian businessman will live in the Upstairs Downstairs fashion when the restoration of his listed old Auckland villa is complete.

Fraser Gillies, architectural designer working on Devonport's scheduled 33 Mays St beneath the Mt Victoria summit, said the house was being returned to the Victorian style and an era two centuries ago when the class system affected residential design.

But major changes are also planned - such as its eight new bathroom areas, with six en suites, a shower in the new swimming pool changing room and an eighth shower in the new spa pool shelter.

"It was very much an Upstairs Downstairs era," Gillies said referring to the British television drama series and the fact that the 1897 house was designed for servants and masters.

"We're returning the kitchen to its original place. We're trying to retain the formal proportions of the rooms, in the typical late Victorian style, but with a lot of mod cons."

The house designed by architect Geo. Sayers was built for whaler-turned-Devonport Borough councillor Captain Ernest Ford who sailed The Magellan Cloud, then lived in Devonport with his wife, Isabella.

Gillies said a scullery was originally in a separate building so the new kitchen would be repositioned towards that side of the property but incorporated into the main house.

With a stately 1m-plus fireplace cavity, that new hub will have an island bench seating eight, large walk-in pantry, wine fridge and extensive views out over the 13m x 5.4m pool.

People in the area are shocked to see so many weatherboards stripped off and asked why such change was necessary but Gillies says Devonport Heritage is onside.

His conservation plan spells out how the class system influenced the home's design.

"The lower storey would originally have been a kitchen and accommodation for the servants, cook, maid, butler, etc.

"The small ... shed on the southwest corner would have been used for the laundry, linen storage, preparation and a long-drop toilet."

That shed is long gone but Gillies has designed a new one with a spa pool large enough to accommodate eight people.

Svetlana and Vassili Danilov, originally from Siberia but now living at Red Beach, are project managing the work which will not be finished until next year.

Owner Alexandre Germanovich was taking a close interest in the changes to the house but was sailing so contact lately was sporadic.

"People make assumptions that Russians are coming here to spend money. But he's very concerned with history and heritage," Svetlana said.

She estimated about $400,000 had already been spent on the house which Germanovich bought for $1.9 million in early 2013. His daughter Lola lived at 8 Mays St nearby which he also owned.