SCHOOL ZONES:
Northcote & Birkenhead Primary Schools, St Mary’s, Northcote Intermediate, Northcote College.
CONTACT:
Sat/Sun 1pm-1.45pm or by appointment.
Designed in 1965 and completed in 1971, this smart five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with its soaring ceilings and enormous windows is a fitting tribute to its innovative era.
Owners, actor David Aston and his wife Moira Green have lived in the property for 11 years - at one stage with all of their four sons.
"It was a perfect family home," says Moira.
Various renovations have been done sympathetically over the years and a new garage with a decking rooftop, melds seamlessly with the existing house, which is situated down a long driveway, well away from traffic noise.
Inside the front door is a bright, airy atrium, and on the top level there's a large living area with a gas fire and dining area
The smart modern granite kitchen comes complete with a combined scullery and laundry, a feature Moira has found especially useful.
The views from this level are spectacular and David and Moira never tire of them.
"The cityscape beyond the bridge is especially attractive at night when all the lights are twinkling and there's always something happening on the harbour," says Moira.
"We get especially excited when the tug tows the sugar boat over to the Chelsea refinery, and it's great watching dragon boats training and racing.
"The historic boats from the maritime museum come past our little bay and the stand-up paddle boarders too. It's an ever-changing vista."
David and Moira's master bedroom suite lies at the end of the house and opens on to a private swimming pool and its surrounding garden.
"It's just so good to be able to hop out of bed and jump straight in the pool and the grandchildren love it, of course," says Moira.
"We like to lie in and watch the little swallows swooping up and down over the water."
Image 1 of 5: Innovative family home has perfect city views and is a tribute to its era. Photos / supplied
Birdlife abounds on this 720sq m section and wood pigeons, tui, fantails and rosellas make regular appearances.
Downstairs is a nifty self-contained wing designed with the couple's sons in mind. It has its own bathroom and kitchenette and lies beside the internal access garage.
"When you have that many males in the house you really have to give them their own space to let off steam with each other and with friends," Moira says.
David has a green thumb and when he's not working with the Auckland Theatre Company, he loves pottering around in the garden, which is essentially a series of "rooms" each with its own personality.
"There are plenty of places to sit so we're able to follow the sun around all day."
"Ours was one of the first houses built here and back then, it would have been a bit like living in Titirangi," says David.
Close to public transport including a regular ferry service to the city and not far from the motorway, this much loved and well-maintained property has village life practically on its doorstep with restaurants, wine bars, boutiques and an art house cinema a few minutes' walk away.
The couple is finding the house a bit large now the last son has finally left home, and they plan to travel more.
This makes apartment living look like a very attractive option.
"We've had a villa, a bungalow and this 1970s house so it's time for another change," says Moira.
