Westmere: Metal deco fantasy

An artistic builder's take on an historic style contains an oriental surprise.

151 Garnet Road, Westmere.

Steve Sygrove describes himself as a house designer, builder, craftsman and artist.

"I see the houses I build as a form of public art," he says. "People have to look at them so they should be a gift to the street."

His latest creation with wife Chrissie is a first. After years spent renovating villas and gothic-style houses in the inner suburbs, they had a yearning to do something along art deco lines. Two years ago they bought this section, which is surrounded by art deco houses, and Steve let his imagination go.

After numerous battles with the Auckland City Council, and much time spent perfecting the "sticky out" fly roofs and banded copper-clad parapets, he and Chrissie have produced their modern, metallic take on art deco. The two-level house is clad in baby corrugated iron and finished with copper plating and American redwood - demolition timber from Takapuna's famous Mon Desir Hotel.

"Lots of people stop to look," says Steve. "Some take photos, some knock on the door and comment on how amazing it is. We haven't had any really negative comments; there's just a few people who don't get it."

Once inside the oversize front door, the art deco influence largely ends and an oriental flavour takes over. You are led into a zen-like inner courtyard, open to the sky with a water feature in its centre. The water feature, with its metal flower heads, is by sculptor Phillip Luxton, as are other art works around the house and the giant water bowl in the back yard.

"The idea behind the courtyard was to lead people into a lit space, rather than a long dark corridor," says Steve. "It also provides an outlook for two bedrooms either side, because there was no outlook from the sides of the house."

On the other side of the courtyard you pass through a double-height hallway that leads to the bedrooms either side, or straight down to the living areas. Large sliding doors made of redwood veneer and eucalyptus continue the oriental theme.

Steve crafted all the kitchen cabinetry from redwood, adding a deco touch with banding around their tops. The wood is balanced by a stainless steel benchtop. The dining area next to it flows through bifold doors to a deck, and the back yard. Steve and Chrissie retained two of the property's old fruit trees - a fig and a mandarin - as a nod to its history as part of the Lynton farm that used to cover much of the local area.

There are two upstairs portions to the house - at the back is the master bedroom, en suite and a study that captures loads of sun from the north. On the other side of the courtyard is another flight of stairs that takes you up to another bedroom, bathroom and a deck that looks southwest to the Waitakeres.

The couple have been living in the house for a year with their three children - Reuben, 20, Violet, 18 and Mirabel, 14 - and say it works really well for a family.

"The separation of bedrooms is good for teenagers," says Steve. "Reuben is upstairs at the front, and the two girls are on either side of the courtyard. Then we've got our own space upstairs at the back."

The courtyard provides another space for the kids and their friends to hang out if the parents are using the deck at the rear.

But it's time for Steve and Chrissie to move on to their next project - a state house renovation in Ponsonby.

"I think if you're involved in the design and the building of something you're more in charge of its quality control," says Steve. "I only lasted a year in architecture school - I went off and became a hippy - so I haven't been formally trained or channelled into any particular style. I think that's allowed me to be more creative."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 517sq m, house 215sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: New homes of this size in the area are selling for in excess of $1 million, although the unique aspects of this property make it hard to price. Auction December 8.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.45pm.

CONTACT: Ann McDonald, Ray White Ponsonby, ph 021 650 900, 376 2186.

FEATURES: New two-level house made of corrugated iron, copper and American redwood. North-facing deck and back yard, upstairs deck gives views to the west. Inner courtyard, two living areas. Sunny upstairs office off master bedroom.