Remuera: On the button

Technology rules at an ultra-modern home with views of the harbour

Dean Marris is the definition of a techno wizard. He works in IT and he loves gadgets and gizmos, and his property reflects his passion for pushing buttons.

He and his wife, Ginnie, employed architect David Ponting to create their ultra-contemporary home on a bare section in Remuera's Arney Crescent, chosen for its level ground and first-rate views across the trees and rooftops to Hobson Bay and Rangitoto.

"I told Dean that as far as the techy stuff went, as long as I could work it and we didn't go over budget, we'd have it,'' says Ginnie. "We did end up going over budget in the end, but we didn't care as we love the result.''

The home's high-tech highlights include motorised, remote-controlled louvres over the deck with rain sensors, a motorised projection TV screen, a home entertainment system that extends to nine different areas in the house and motorised blinds in the lounge, family room and master suite.

Other mod cons include underfloor heating in the bathrooms and polished concrete areas, a central vacuum and touch pad light switches.

The couple's design brief was for a stylish yet practical family home that made the most of the 750sq m section and the views.

The L-shaped house sits well back on the site, leaving enough room for a lawn and a pool, if the new owner wants one, plumbing for it is already in place.

Dean's state-of-the-art stuff got a look-in outside, too, where a four-zone automatic irrigation system makes light work of watering the garden.

The trendy design of the pre-cast concrete dwelling starts at the huge, cedar-battened front door, which actually looks more like a wall. With key-pad access and no visible handle, you're not quite sure whether it's going to open in the traditional fashion or slide open Star Trek-style when you first press the buzzer.

Slowly it swings inwards on a pivot, and you step into an interior that's a mix of polished concrete and American oak floors, white and grey walls and more cedar battens.

"We've used cedar inside on some of the walls as a contrast to the concrete,'' says Ginnie as we move along to the family area and whiter-than-white kitchen, where the appliances are hidden behind white cabinetry and a Corian benchtop takes centre stage.

Two walls of this room are retractable floor-to-ceiling windows, which open the area to a large balcony with a clear glass balustrade, the splendid view and the garden.

The lounge and dining area, which is where the home theatre system lives, occupies the other wing, which opens to another deck and more of that view.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, one of which belongs to Ella, the couple's nine-month-old daughter, the main bathroom and the master suite.

The basement houses the guest room and en suite, the laundry and a wine cellar.

Having completed their first designer home, Dean and Ginnie have got a taste for property development and are taking on another project a few doors down.

"We've designed this place to suit how we like to live,'' says Dean. "We love the contemporary style and clean lines. Now we're moving on to tackle another one.''

VITAL STATISTICS

WHERE: 34B Arney Cr, Remuera

SIZE: Land 750sq m, house 470sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $4 million-plus.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm.

CONTACT: Leila MacDonald, Barfoot & Thompson Remuera, ph 021 928 926 mob.

FEATURES: Ultra-modern, luxury family home designed by architect David Ponting with state-of-the-art features, open-plan living spaces, generous balconies, wine cellar, impressive harbour views from most rooms and plumbing for a pool.