CONTACT:
Bob Gordon, Barfoot & Thompson, 0274 759 025.
AUCTION:
October 19.
Forty seven years after Marshall Cook's first architectural firm was commissioned to draw up plans for its first home, the Meadowbank property stands proud as a ground-breaking 1970s design that still works well for modern living.
The home in Gowing Drive was designed in 1969 for the accountant at Ceramco, who wanted to showcase the products of the company, then known as Amalgamated Brick and Tile.
When the house was constructed in 1970, Marshall says it was the first to be built with double skin, reinforced brick and probably the last in New Zealand to use structural forest-grown kauri.
"The home's open plan, its orientation to the north and its use of courtyards were all relatively innovative principles - mostly derided by the owner's contemporaries at the time," says Marshall.
"It was also one of the great party houses of the era."
Fast forward nearly half a century and the home's current owners can also attest to its party potential and say the clever layout and orientation are ideal for family living.
Bree Lornie and her architect husband Tom Lornie love 1970s design so knew immediately they wanted to buy this house after its second owners put it on the market in early 2012.
The house sits on 1404 square metres of land that slopes down to a peaceful, private back garden with large trees including a phoenix palm, kowhai and gleditzia that attract native birds including tui and wood pigeons.
From the road the house looks modest, but once visitors come through the front gate and past the street-facing carport, Bree says they are surprised at how big the 233sq m home is.
Its different spaces are spread over several low, split levels and the design includes several internal and external brick walls, brick steps, brick paved courtyards and brick flooring in the entrance foyer.
A large study to the left of the entrance is set up as a nursery for Bree and Tom's 21-month-old daughter Rory, and there is a single bedroom off to the right.
Beyond the entrance, steps lead down to a high studded large lounge with an open fire and bi-folding wooden doors that open to a north-facing courtyard.
Opposite the lounge, more steps lead up to the main bathroom, a separate toilet and a double bedroom that opens to its own courtyard and is an ideal guest wing.
Steps off the lounge lead down to a sunny kitchen and dining area that open to a brick paved patio and barbecue area and look over a two-level, fenced wooden deck that surrounds a circular swimming pool.
The kitchen area also looks to the leafy, private back garden and has a family room off it which can be used as a separate dining area.
An eastern wing that steps up from the kitchen, and was added in the early 1970s, includes the master bedroom, laundry with a shower, second bathroom and a downstairs bedroom.
The layout of the kitchen is largely unchanged since it was built and includes well-maintained original joinery including a rimu-lined pantry.
Bree, who is now a full-time mother, loves how peaceful and private the property is and its proximity to good parks including St John's Bush and Waiatarua Reserve, which is great for walking their dog Pipi.
