Herne Bay - Rock of ages

A house built in the 1940s was way ahead of its time.

The Marble House, 28 Clifton Road, Herne Bay.

Despite our growing love affair with mid-century design in furniture and textiles, substantial mid-century architecture is still a rarity in much of Auckland's seaside inner city suburbs.

Aficionados usually have to trek to pockets in the eastern rings of town or the Shore. So this house in Clifton Road, Herne Bay is already exciting much interest.

This corner of Herne Bay had been owned by the Smiths (of Smith and Caughey fame) and then the Salvation Army, who sold the land in the middle of last century.

Built by the Bourke family in 1946-47, the Marble House was inspired by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and utilised marble, granite and kauri.

Bill Bourke grew up in Herne Bay and when he returned from the war, where he was a prisoner in Sumatra, he bought the land next door to his mother's property for his new family home.

He and his brother built much of the house themselves, using marble and stone Bill sourced through his job managing the New Zealand Marble Company.

``My husband was keen on architecture, he designed the house himself,'' recalls his widow Mrs Bourke. ``But after the war there were building restrictions on materials and the size of houses, so he didn't waste any space on corridors.''

The resulting floor plan is very 21st century: the u-shaped house centres around a marble paved courtyard, so that all the rooms receive sun and shelter.

When the house was built, its elevated position afforded views down Clifton Road to the sea. Now the terraced property is graciously protected by mature trees, with a series of garden rooms and the sound of running water from an original bubbling pond.

The current owners, Anna Cahill and Greg Fahey, delight in bottling jars of pears at the end of summer from the old pear tree.

``When we looked at this house five years ago, we just stood at the bottom of the terrace and knew we had to have it,'' recalls Anna. ``The previous owners had done the perfect renovation, they were sensitive to the feel of the period and didn't wreck it with modernising.''

She points to the crisp white and stainless steel kitchen that opens through original bi-fold doors to the terrace. ``Most people would have knocked out walls here, but we just love the proportion of this room, and then the separate cosy feeling of the sun-room next door.''

Quirks like marble window ledges and original mouldings were kept, while a classic mid-century colour palette of mid-greys and rich tones was restored.

It is hard to tell where dramatic touches such as the Greek key mosaic entry floor (to match original door handles from the old National Bank) or stone fireplaces have been updated.

The original black marble bathroom retains its carved frosted glass window, but has the comfort of modern fittings.

A self-contained apartment was added to the west end of the house later, incorporating a 60s panelled rumpus room and orange and timber kitchenette, but with the comforts of a modern bathroom.

The family have even left an original bed which folds out from the wall in the bedroom. This space could be used as a separate flat, or a cool work-from-home office.

Anna and Greg have now fallen in love with another project in the neighbourhood, so once again are following their hearts to the next house.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 3+

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGES: 2+

SIZE: Land 1084sq m (approx), house 198sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2005) $1.61 million. Auction this Thursday August 24.

INSPECT: Sun/Wed 12-12.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.raywhite.com # PON11121

CONTACT: Jan George, Ray White, ph 027 478 4119.

FEATURES: 1947 marble and sandstone house in modern prairie style, featuring two bedrooms and two living rooms in main house, with third living in an attached self contained studio (with kitchenette). Modern kitchen, two fireplaces and original black marble bathroom. Marble paved courtyard and private terraced landscaped gardens.