Yvonne Carter and Chris Due are the fourth owners of the home, which is still known as the Castle house, thanks to a sign at the driveway entrance. They've been here for nearly nine years, along with now young-adult children, Jonathan and Rebekah.
Yvonne says she had known of Castle, but hadn't realised this home had been built for him when she first came to view it. "We loved the view and its nice, warm feeling. There was something about it that captivated us," she says. The couple made sure the decision to buy was practical, too. "I have lived in Titirangi most of my life and in some areas the sun can be lacking," says Yvonne. "We came to see the house in the morning, at midday and in the late afternoon and brought a compass to see where north was," adds Chris.
Yvonne and Chris have a box of house plans and reports which they will pass on to the new owners. Although it is not known who exactly designed the house, the box includes a set of 1972 plans prepared by Wilson Moodie Gillespie & Partners, a firm of architects, engineers and valuers.
Typical of thoughtfully designed homes of its era and location, 56 Paturoa Rd features split-level living, with features such as soaring, steeply pitched ceilings, built-in window seats and a cosy, snug living area, off the main living space. There are also touches which are a legacy of Castle - a shelving unit in Yvonne and Chris' ground-floor "adults' retreat" which apparently was once used to display pottery; Castle's fondness for Japanese design is evident in the sunken dining pit in the main living area, which is currently covered by a sofa.
Yvonne and Chris have made sure improvements have been in keeping with the spirit of the house. They've carefully extended their adults' retreat and built a spacious en suite. Outside, they added a solar-heated kidney-shaped pool, complete with era-appropriate crazy paving and a rock garden. An existing carport was replaced with double garaging, with a pool house bathroom downstairs and a gym/guest accommodation area above.
As with many Titirangi homes, this property is quiet and private. Yvonne and Chris can park in the garage then walk a short path to the house, but visitors are directed to the side of the garage, to follow a charming path that meanders through the bush to the front door. The couple both work from home with media businesses. Their office is near the front door, as is a guest bedroom and en suite. The adults' retreat is also downstairs, while further bedrooms and a large bathroom are on the uppermost level.
Outside, extensive decking, a spa pool and outdoor fire look out to the spectacular view.
