SCHOOL ZONES:
Orewa Primary School, Orewa North School, Orewa College.
CONTACT:
Janne Adams, Bayleys, 021 508 098.
AUCTION:
Wednesday, February 17 (unless sold prior).
Off-road racer Lucinda Manard shifts gear to an extremely leisurely pace around this distinctive Waiwera home she shares with husband Bryce Rowe.
Their Ian Burrow-designed house, shaped like a three-pronged vintage propeller, sits on a hill above Waiwera township, looking out to water and native bush.
Lucinda says: "You feel like you've got away from everything. You've got to really like your friends when you live here because they never want to leave."
Recently retired quantity surveyor Bryce says: "You just completely unwind here; it's such a sunny, relaxed and warm home.
"And yet we're within 10 minutes of Orewa and about 40 minutes from Auckland CBD off-peak."
And that is not driving off-road, which Lucinda has done since her nephews, former New Zealand off-road racing champions Scott and Michael Hay, got her hooked on competing about five years ago.
Lucinda and Bryce moved here from a Paremoremo lifestyle block 14 years ago.
Bryce says: "Straight away I was struck by the house's architectural impact and its restful surroundings and views."
The house is orientated for privacy and tranquil elevated views out to Waiwera inlet and sea, Wenderholm, Kawau, Mahurangi and Coromandel. Architect Ian Burrow, whose designs are characterised by strong geometric forms encompassing elements such as circular windows and towers, designed the home in the 1990s.
Lucinda says: "That round window by the front door has been a signature of his designs."
The shingle-roofed home is constructed of solid plaster which also features in painted interior walls. Distinctive wooden features include sarked Douglas fir ceilings, exposed structural poles and lintels above doorways.
Image 1 of 6: Three-pronged beauty is where off-road racer slows down and soaks up the sun
Bryce says: "There are lots of curves rather than straight walls and corners are curved too, rather than being sharp edges.
"Almost every room opens up to outdoors so it's brilliant for entertaining, especially in good weather."
If you turn off to the left instead of crossing Waiwera River heading north, you'll find number 65 about 1.5km from the township. The 5.67ha elevated site, spread with lawn and gardens around the home, is largely native bush, teeming with tui and wood pigeons to taunt Burmese cats Carter and Cody.
The impact is striking as you enter into the big and balmy glass-roofed atrium central to the three-winged layout. Its indoor garden and burbling copper water feature bolster the welcome.
The pressed concrete floor retains the heat of the sun beaming through the glass roof well into the evenings. An umbrella shields an indoor table where friends often join them for drinks.
There's always somewhere sheltered to sit outside with three decks arranged around the propeller-shaped wings, the most scenic being the northeast facing one with far-reaching views.
The couple added several sliding shutter doors that are able to shut off wings from the atrium, increasing privacy and defining areas for winter heating. One wing has a family room with a wood burner, two bedrooms and an upgraded kitchen with new appliances and wooden bench top.
Another wing, just re-carpeted, has a large living area with an inviting built-in curved seating bay. Off this, a dressing room and refurbished en suite open off the retreat-like master bedroom. The third wing has the double garage and laundry plus two rooms, which can be bedrooms, a study or a gym. Chunky curves reminiscent of adobe are on display in a bathroom off the atrium. "I call this my Freddy Flintstone shower," says Lucinda.
There is lockable basement man-cave storage and space for Lucinda's racing vehicles behind an ancient puriri. The couple plan to downsize but stay in the area.
