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Lengthy commutes or motorway delays are far from Ayka Hammer's mind when she leaves her apartment in the morning to work across the road at Auckland Hospital.
The location is a large part of her reason for choosing to live in this one-bedroom penthouse in Grafton's Bridgeside building.
Ayka and her husband George bought the apartment about five years ago, deciding to downsize from a larger house when their son left home. Although George does commute to his Mt Wellington workplace, in his free time he enjoys walking to places such as Newmarket or the art gallery. Ayka says they wanted only one bedroom when they started looking for a central Auckland apartment, but they also didn't want to live in too small a space.
Bridgeside made the decision easy as they like the apartment's size, layout, views, the balcony off the living room, and Ayka says the building is well maintained.
They also appreciate the height of the ceiling. "Even with furniture we have a sense of space," says Ayka. "You're not crowded, and you're not squashed in. And being north-facing we get natural light and warmth.
"And we like apartment living. It depends on your lifestyle, some people like a home and a garden, we prefer city life. We walk to Newmarket, the art gallery and we'll even walk to Britomart when it's fine [weather]."
The couple have a car which is parked in one of the two spaces allocated to them in the basement.
Image 1 of 3: Getting to work, uni or out on the town is a breeze from this well-located apartment
The views from their fifth-level, north-facing apartment take in the city including the Sky Tower, North Head, the harbour and Rangitoto Island. "At night with the lights on, the view is beautiful, too. And at New Year, we see the fireworks at SkyTower."
Ayka says the building manager is efficient and helpful, plus apartment dwellers have use of a sauna and well-equipped gym. The Hammers' apartment has a large storage cupboard as you come in, a bathroom, and then the bedroom. This has ample space for bed, bedside furniture, a chest of drawers as well as the double wardrobe.
There is also a large window, with a blind, between the bedroom and living room.
The kitchen is galley style along the wall leading into the living room, which Ayka says is multifunctional ... "dining, living and my office".
The apartment has been an ideal city address for the couple but they are selling to move to Croatia. They imagine their apartment will appeal to young professionals who work at the hospital or close by.
Ayka says of those who live in the building: "They tend to be younger professionals, single or couples ... Parents used to buy them for their children at university or work."
