Takapuna: Treasure

Hidden treasure 

9 Rarere Road, Takapuna. 

An architect-designed home sits in a private oasis just back from Takapuna Beach. 

Tucked down a right of way and with a bland facade, there's nothing remarkable about this Ron Sang-designed home as you approach from the road. Except for the towering, bright red front door that hints at what might be on the other side. 

"It was the tallest door in the country when this place was built - I'm not sure if it still is," says owner Perry Macdonald. 

Once that door is open, the logic behind the house turning its back on the neighbours, the road and the south becomes apparent. The northern side of the home is almost entirely glazed to make the most of the sun and the sea views out to Rangitoto Island. 

The three-level home has a curved central atrium over two storeys with a domed skylight roof. There are two wings off the atrium. The deck on the middle level zigzags along the entire face of the house and overlooks the in-ground saltwater pool. 

The middle level is the hub of the home with kitchen, dining and living rooms. The upper level has two bedrooms, one in each wing, connected by a gangway that cuts through the atrium. Both the upstairs bedrooms have their own en suites and balconies. 

The bottom level flows out to the pool and has two more bedrooms, a media room and a lounge with a kitchenette. The pool, as well as having a spa pool built into one corner, has an island in another corner as a setting for outdoor dining. Perry has lived in the 17-year-old home for about 10 years and says the design and the materials have stood the test of time. 

"The thing about it being a Ron Sang house is that it just doesn't date," she says. 

"The guy who built it apparently had heaps of money because it's made of solid concrete - even the garage has slate tiles on the floor. The wiring and technology that went into the place were really advanced for those days." 

Perry says very little work has needed to be done on the home in the time she's been there - apart from the interior colour scheme. 

"It was very 80s - greys and pinks - which we changed quite rapidly," she smiles. 

And the garden around the pool, which was mainly natives, has been revamped by award-winning designer Ted Smythe so that it is lower maintenance and more pool friendly. 

Perry says it's been a great home for entertaining and has been ideal for her teenage son and daughter, who made the downstairs their own. "It's great for teenagers - they can be partying downstairs and you just don't hear any noise," Perry says. 

"And the best thing about this house is that it's not only got beach access but you can also swim naked in the pool if you want to because it's so private." Perry says with her daughter now at university in Melbourne and her son likely to be heading off to university next year, it's time to downsize. 

Vital Statistics: 

BEDROOMS: 4 

BATHROOMS: 3 

GARAGE: 3 

SIZE: Land 1103sq m, house 520sq m. 

PRICE: Interest expected above $3.5 million. Auction April 9. 

INSPECT: Sun 2-3pm. 

CONTACT: Greg Ward, Premium Real Estate, ph 486 1727 bus, 021 651 555, 489 8844a/h.

FEATURES: Sprawling solid concrete home over three levels designed by Ron Sang. Sea views, triple garage with internal access, underfloor heating, security system, in-ground saltwater pool and spa pool. Direct access to Takapuna beach.