Epsom: Group dynamic

Catherine Smith discovers an untouched architectural treasure awaiting a new family.

5A Castle Drive, Epsom.

After years of playing bridesmaid to the villa or the bungalow, the classic houses of New Zealand's mid-century are newly desirable, coveted by design and architecture fans for their easy liveability.

And at the top of the shopping list for fans of 20th century architecture are houses built by members of the revolutionary Group Construction (sometimes called Group Architects). But back in 1965, first generation Chinese businessman James Lowe and his wife Norma were less concerned with history, and more focussed on a practical house for their family of five children, handy to the grammar schools, with plenty of room for study, music practice and games.

Daughter Juanita Skerrett is not sure how her dad connected with architects Bill Wilson and Ivan Juriss, nor whether he realised their importance in modernising how New Zealanders used their homes. But she does recall James' passion for Wilson's ideas, and the obsessive amount of detailing that went into the house.

"Mum was the cook, but Dad and Bill spent hours figuring out the storage shelves in the kitchen, adding a nook for the bottles of Chinese sauces," recalls Juanita. "Every cupboard and drawer in the bedrooms, the study, even the laundry shoot - they really thought it through."

The result is a stunningly modern house that sits unchanged in its private right of way section off Mountain Road. From its grand double-height entrance hall, to its upstairs living, the house is designed to shield the living areas from neighbours, focussing the view to the tree-edged flat section. Juanita recalls hours of games for her and her siblings, and later the seven grandchildren (now aged 10 to 21) in the enormous yard.

When the house featured in the 1967 issue of Home and Building, the writer noted the ground floor bedroom and bathroom quarters for the older children separated from the upstairs adult spaces, with one bedroom for the smaller girls next to the parents' bedroom.

"That was me and my sister Debby," says Juanita. "We had to wait for the big ones to leave home so we could graduate downstairs."

The enormous rumpus room has variously hosted table tennis, indoor bowls and numerous teenage gatherings.

Detailed design is everywhere: built-in bookshelves in the breakfast/sewing room, in the wood-lined study/library, in the built-in window seats capturing sun and views all through the house, and all through the open living and dining space. The brick and cast-concrete fireplace, even the light fittings, could have come out of this month's Home & Entertaining. In fact, apprentice architect on the project at the time, Marshall Cook, recently brought his office staff through the open house to show how well good design ages.

"But this was a completely easy house to live in," recalls Juanita.

"There was never anywhere Mum was worried about kids touching or damaging anything."

Indeed, the easy-care rimu and Jarrah timber, stainless steel benches, and mosaic bathrooms have stood the test of time. The house needs only a re-sanding of the warm cork floors and refinishing the woodwork to be back to pristine. Not bad after 40 years.

Sadly, Mr Lowe died a few years ago, Mrs Lowe earlier this year, so the family is selling their home and memories.

"The house is best when it's full of kids and people are cooking and eating," says Juanita.

"We hope the next family can be here for 40 years creating their own special memories."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 1391 sq m, house 260 sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2002) $1.04 million. Auction November 2.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.45pm

CONTACT: Marise Cheung, Barfoot & Thompson ph 0274 987 684.

FEATURES: 1965 Group Construction home in original condition. Open plan living areas, breakfast room, library/study, rumpus room and storage rooms. Decks to a large, flat section. In zone for Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls Grammar.