APARTMENT 3006,
THE PRECINCT, 6 LORNE STREET,
AUCKLAND CITY.
KEY POINTS:
When Dawn Wilson was apartment shopping in late 2004, she had visions of a city pad that would give her a good investment and a foothold in town, while she built a dream retreat on Waiheke.
But, by the time she came to settle on this apartment in The Precinct on Lorne Street, the Waiheke dream had sped ahead into a fully grown lodge with guests, functions and weddings.
She never did get to live the city lifestyle and is now selling her almost top-floor apartment as the demands of her growing lodge business, Chardy Ridge, keep her tied to the island.
"There is such a beautiful gym here, with a pool and sauna that have a leafy sense of Albert Park right next door," she says.
Plus there is the breathtaking view from the expansive decks of her 30th floor apartment. You take in downtown to the Harbour Bridge and Westhaven, around the Waitemata to the eastern suburbs.
Below your feet is the Victorian map-makers' dream of a well laid-out city: the regular planting and structure of Albert Park, remnants of the gracious merchants' houses around Princes Street and the courts.
Diane was lucky with this apartment, as it was the only single bedroom one on this floor, with as generous living spaces indoors and out as a two-bedroom apartment.
Height restrictions at the planning stages saw a second bedroom carved off, replaced by an enormous outdoor room with glass balustrades.
Facing the harbour and northern sun, it is the perfect place for long lunches, dinners watching the lights of the city come on, or a grandstand possie to watch harbour fireworks or the lights of the Lantern Festival in Albert Park.
The elegant city living starts at the lobby in Lorne Street (with its bookshops, galleries and cafes). The Precinct is also run as a hotel, so stacked stone walls and New York-style chairs, plus professional reception staff greet apartment dwellers and guests alike. Diane's apartment has one of the few street-level carparks, too.
The apartment opens from a compact well-designed kitchen (there is space for a small table or attractive servery) into the living and dining room. Built-in storage combines blonde oak for the entertainment unit and desk with the white lacquer and stone floors of the kitchen. Sliding doors on two sides open to the decks.
The master bedroom and en suite have their own decks: Diane says the up-lighting of old university clock tower across the park makes a serene sight at night.
The immaculate apartment is let to what must be Auckland's tidiest tenant, but owners in the Precinct also have the opportunity to put their apartments under hotel management as another revenue source (a furniture package would need to be purchased). Diane will also consider offers for the furniture she put new into the apartment, as her lodge is already graciously fitted out.
"I can see our house on Waiheke from here with the binoculars," says Diane. " I guess I'll just be able to look back on this tower from the island from now on."