Auckland city: Sky Hyatt

A unique apartment benefited from being designed before its building was constructed, writes Estelle Sarney.

Suite 1457, Hyatt Residences, Corner Waterloo Quadrant and Princes Street, Auckland city.

When Debra Hope's mother told a friend that her daughter and son-in-law lived in an hotel, her friend asked, "Why, is he the caretaker?"

Far from it. Don Hope runs his publishing business from the lofty realms of the 14th floor of the Hyatt Residences - an apartment tower that adjoins the hotel. Those who live there can use as many or as few of the hotel's services and facilities as they wish. Use of the hotel spa and gym complex, for example, is included in the cost of an apartment.

"Someone will take our bags out of the car if we want them to, we can ring down for room service, and the newspaper gets delivered every morning," says Don. "I'm not sure New Zealanders are used to this style of living. You tell people you live in an hotel and they imagine a standard suite with a tiny kitchen and feel sorry for you."

Don and Debra's suite is, in fact, unique - not just in Auckland but within the tower.

"About five years ago we were living in Herne Bay and thought we might do something in the city," recalls Debra. "This tower wasn't even built, but we had a look at the plans."

They showed that on every floor, a corridor would run down the centre, with residences opening off either side. The couple decided that design was a waste of the panoramic view, so bought both apartment spaces off the only floor left with both to sell across the building's frontage. They wanted to create one sweeping residence across the entire width of the building.

They then had to wait 18 months for the building to go up. They so liked its exterior, with its wave-like balconies and sail-like canopies, that they asked one of the architects responsible, Lindsay Mackie of Archimedia, to design the interior of their apartment. The space he created went on to win the residential category of the Designers Institute Best Design Awards last year.

Its white on white colour scheme is softened by blonded American maple floors, frosted glass doors and matt metallic detailing. A curved wall behind the kitchen refers to the curves on the building's exterior, and gives this end of the apartment a ship-like feel. All three bedrooms open onto the wide balcony that wraps around the three sides of the apartment.

All of these features pull you toward the view, because that's what's doing the loudest talking. You can watch the sun rise and the sun set, look at buildings up close, cars down below, boats on the harbour, or the Coromandel in the distance.

"The best time of day is between about 5pm and 7pm," says Debra. "The sun's setting, the lights are coming on, yachts might be on the harbour racing - it's just magic."

Don reckons the apartment looks its best at night, too. A lot of thought went into the lighting, and 120 halogens are scattered across the ceiling of the kitchen, dining and living area. Designed to display art, there are lit recesses on many walls. Even the edge of the floor is lit by lights in recessed steel kickboards.

On cold, blustery nights you can turn on the gas fire. On summer evenings, you can cook on a piped gas barbecue. Don says the advantage of designing an apartment before the building was constructed was that they could request services like connecting it to the hotel's gas system.

Don is particularly proud of a feature that will appeal to Kiwi blokes. The apartment comes with its own garage-like space in the general carpark - its three carparks and storage lockers have their own roller door.

So why are they leaving?

"I want a dog," laughs Debra, "and this hotel doesn't allow pets." They also want to divide their time between Auckland and a lifestyle property they're now hunting for.

Says Don, "We always thought of this as a rare opportunity to create a beautiful space, and then we'd go on to do something else."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 3

SIZE: Apartment 207sqm, decks 93sq m, garage 53sq m.

PRICE: $2.75 million. Body corporate fee $15,640 pa.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Linda Galbraith, Harcourts, ph 021 966 028.

FEATURES: Architecturally designed and award winning apartment on the 14th floor of a building adjoining a central city hotel. Third bedroom could be used as an office. Piped for gas cooking, fire and barbecue. Kitchen has Fisher and Paykel appliances, including a double oven. Wired for sound. Access to hotel services and facilities, including the spa and gym complex. Three carparks and storage locker behind own roller door. Living area and bedrooms all have access to decks to take in the breathtaking view.