b'words: Melanie Cooperpictures: Kallan MacLeodsomething oldsomething newA dilapidated villa sharing a section witha disused boot factory might not soundlike your average dream home, butAndrew Wilson had an idea that it could be.Andrew is one half of the husband and wife team behind Urbis Construction, a company that renovates heritage housing to make it sympathetic to todays living, while trying to preserve its classic features. So, a square-fronted villa built in 1897, coupled with a 1920s boot factory complete with its own WWII history, was too good to pass up.Before I came across it, Id spent a while looking for a semi-commercial property with high-studded ceilings and that industrial, warehouse sort of feel. And then this villa with a factory on the back comes on the market for the rst time in 50-odd years, says Andrew.Situated in Leighton St, in Aucklands city fringe suburb Grey Lynn, it was the propertys potential for outdoor living that sealed its appeal, Andrew says. The other drawcard was the unique opportunity presented by having a second building on the 481sqm sitesomething that couldnt be recreated under todays building restrictions.It took his wife Ella a little longer to share the vision. At rst it was really hard to visualise. It just looked like a lot of hard work. The building out the back was full of a lifetime of junk: birdcages, car parts, old suitcases.The buildings were also in a shocking state, but Andrew couldnt shake the idea of creating a ow that would draw the two structures together and shape the perfect indoor-outdoor living area. Then, after resolving to go ahead with the project, it was a question of deciding what to keep and what to change with the help of architect Greg Jones of Jones Architects.The overall plan was based around a courtyard style, orientated to the northern aspect, and with a good visual link between the house and the studio.Jones says they worked within the existing structures, but concentrated on opening up all the spaces.| 45'