SCHOOL ZONES:
Freemans Bay Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College, Auckland Girls’ Grammar.
CONTACT:
Luke McCaw (021 950 145) and Andrea Ritchie (021 906 793), Bayleys
AUCTION:
May 6.
People often walk into James and Tess Clark's Freemans Bay home and say, "Wow!" That's the reaction they had when they first saw the contemporary home designed by renowned architect Daniel Marshall three years ago. The pair were entranced from the moment they walked across the stepping stones over the fish pond and to the front door -- and their visitors are the same.
"We were very, very lucky to be able to buy this house," says James. "It's not often that a Daniel Marshall house becomes available and we intercepted it before auction, buying it 48 hours after it came on to the market."
The house, which has twice featured in Urbis, including in the magazine's top 10 houses list, was designed in 2006 to fit into a tricky, narrow, dog leg-shaped sloping site between two streets.
The house resembles a piece of modern art -- it is bold, striking and elicits an emotional response -- but it is not just good to look at. It also extremely practical and provides all the comforts of 21st-century living.
"It is a very easy house to live in; it is no trouble to keep clean and look after, but it is also a great entertaining house," says James. "We have had some amazing parties here."
The sense that you've arrived somewhere special starts at the stepping stones across the pond to the front door, and continues up the stone staircase to the living area.
The dining area, kitchen and living room are wrapped around a central mirrored cube that contains a cloakroom, a flight of stairs to the top level and every entertainer's dream -- a fully functional bar hidden behind folding doors.
The bar includes an icemaker, beer and wine fridge, shelves for glasses, and a sound system.
"It's fantastic for entertaining because everything is in one place, but it is also nice to be able to shut it away on a Sunday morning when your head is sore."
The bar is James' favourite part of the house, the kitchen is Tess'. It has a separate pantry, granite benchtops, plenty of cupboard space and a large island where people can gather.
Image 1 of 5: This property is so stylishly cool it'll send shivers of excitement down your spine
The living area beside the kitchen features two walls of glass that can be pushed back to open up the whole corner of the house to the swimming pool. Beyond the pool is a terrace with built-in seating that has an iconic outlook across the rooftops of Freemans Bay to the city and Sky Tower.
"We never get sick of looking at the view," says Tess, adding that it is the perfect spot to entertain.
One of the surprises (and extremely cleverly designed) elements of the house is that there's a hidden wing beneath the pool and terrace. Reached via a flight of stairs from the living room, this part of the house comprises a bathroom with partial glass ceiling over the shower, a laundry, two bedrooms and a second living area equipped with a home theatre.
"This has been great for guests," says Tess.
Being away from the main part of the house gives everyone privacy. Both bedrooms and the living space open out to a separate lawn.
The master bedroom is at the other end of the house, above the kitchen. It has its own balcony, an en suite with a huge bath plus a walk-in shower and a walk-through wardrobe.
There's also a double garage in the basement and offstreet parking for a couple more cars.
While it was the house that James and Tess were initially besotted with, they quickly fell in love with the area.
They're just a few minutes from Ponsonby Rd, the city, Wynyard Quarter and the Viaduct, and it is an easy stroll to the New World supermarket at Victoria Park. Costley Park is across the road.
James and Tess wouldn't be parting with their much-loved home of three years if it weren't for the fact that they hope to start a family soon, and are after a house that is a little more baby-friendly.
"It will be hard to leave," says James.
"But we feel lucky that we have got to live here for as long as we have."
