Waiheke Island: Bean there, done that

The owners of a Waiheke Island home took their inspiration from the Bean Rock lighthouse

124 Delamore Dr, Waiheke Island.

Phil Briggs says Bean Rock lighthouse made him retire, so he doffed his hat to the Waitemata harbour landmark by using it as inspiration for his house on Waiheke Island.

The Bean Rock house is now a landmark on the side of the hill at Matiatia, one of the first things ferry passengers see as they pull into the wharf. Its sprawling design includes three octagons from which you half expect a lighthouse keeper to emerge.

"My wife Pam and I used to catch the ferry from town to Waiheke for weekends away, then we came to live on the island and commuted," recalls Phil, a former investment adviser and financial planner. "Every time I passed the Bean Rock lighthouse I used to feel I was leaving the city for somewhere more relaxing, and that made me think about stopping work altogether and retiring. Eventually I did."

Phil and Pam had plans in the pipeline for two houses - the one they favoured at Rocky Bay, 3m from the shore, took three years to gain consent.

"At one point we'd given up and thought let's just build at Matiatia and live there."

Phil found a couple of draughtsmen who could put his Bean Rock ideas onto paper, then he worked beside a professional builder constructing it.

"It was wonderful being on site, looking up one day and saying, 'Why don't we build peaked octagonal roofs?', and the builder saying he'd love to. I've never been inside the lighthouse, but the house is how I imagine it would look."

Phil says constructing the roofs and ceilings, which he describes as "works of art" was difficult, but they were worth the effort. The octagons contain the office, the bar and the lounge.

Another quirky touch to this home is the outdoor bath by the self-contained apartment downstairs. You can recline under the stars, drink in hand, watching the ferries and boats come in and out of the bay, confident no one can see you. Phil even made sure the bath was fibreglass "which holds the heat much better than cast iron."

There's also a perfectly respectable pool on the edge of the hill, but the spa is in a big room indoors.

"I like to have a spa every day, but most nights it's too cold," says Phil. "So we decided to install it inside - much cosier."

The couple lived in the house for most of last year, and loved the convenience of being able to walk the track they made down the hill then along the shorefront to the ferry terminal.

"If you come back tanked up late at night you can stagger home again without having to worry about driving," laughs Phil.

Somewhat to their surprise, they also got permission to build on the property at Rocky Bay. They've decided they want to live there so are selling their Matiatia house.

"But Rocky Bay is too far to drive after a night on the town in Auckland," laughs Phil. "So we've had to buy an apartment at the Viaduct."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 6

BATHROOMS: 3+

GARAGE: 4

SIZE: Land 2.66 ha, house 347sq m, flat 58sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected over $2.5 million. Tenders close November 22.

INSPECT: Phone for viewing times.

CONTACT: Martin Dobson, Kellands, ph 021 376 952.

FEATURES: Spacious four-bedroom house and self-contained two-bedroom flat with magnificent views across Matiatia bay. Three minute walk down hill track and beachfront to ferry terminal. Self-chlorinating salt water swimming pool with heat exchanger, spa pool in spa room, mooring possibly available through negotiation with vendor, outside clawfoot bath.