SCHOOL ZONES:
Bayfield School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Jan George, 0274 784 119, Aaron Haabjoern, 021 469 226, Ray White.
*PLUS 2 OFF-STREET
If this house and its setting could be moved to London, it would be. Englishman Robert Poll and his New Zealand-born wife, Tanya, and their children, Astrid, 14 and Oscar, 12, are heading back to the UK and wish they could take this special home, in a quiet Herne Bay cul-de-sac, with them.
The Polls fell for this house when it came on the market in August 2011, following the death of its original owner, Jean Crossley.
The Polls spent nine months looking for a home in Auckland from their base staying with family in Mt Maunganui after arriving from London.
It was 10 Saratoga's stylistic similarity to London's renowned Barbican Centre that drew them in. Built in 1961 for Jean and her family, the architects were Newman, Smith and Greenough, London-based New Zealanders who had designed Wanganui's War Memorial Hall (built 1955-60), one of New Zealand's best examples of modernism.
Beautiful rimu panelling and built-in furniture throughout the house are original. With three bedrooms, a study, bathroom and internal-access double garaging downstairs, upstairs has two bedrooms, including a spacious, sunny master bedroom that opens on to a balcony that spans the width of the house. There is also a bathroom and separate toilet.
Robert understands from Jean's family that the house was her pride and joy. "She looked after it incredibly well."
When the Polls moved in they liked its retro-cool salmon pink carpet. "It was like being transported back to 1961."
The architect's original drawings were passed on to them and Robert says the plans confirm the house was ahead of its time.
"It had a dishwasher in the architect's specifications, which in 1961 would have been like the space age."
Image 1 of 9: Masterpiece of 1961 is luxurious and modern without compromising its design. Photos / Ted Baghurst.
Although Robert and Tanya loved the house as it was, they didn't want to live in a museum.
"We started to think about ways we could make it luxurious and modern without compromising its design. This is quite an important house in the history of New Zealand architecture and it would have been a tragedy to have spoiled it."
The Polls took care of the design work themselves, describing it as a "four-year project done carefully and slowly".
One of the first things they did was install central heating. Although the Italian-made radiators look vintage, complete with copper pipes, the technology is leading edge -- the heating comes on automatically when needed. That, combined with the house's sunny aspect and its aggregate-surround, copper-flued fireplace, means it's always warm when there's a chill outside.
Robert and Tanya pulled up the carpet and painted the floorboards white and added new curtains, but the most impressive change is the kitchen. Robert spent three months designing the new kitchen.
Just like its predecessor, the cabinetry and drawers are solid rimu and rimu veneer, but hidden kitchen hardware provides easily accessible, copious storage. Photographer Robert is handy with tools and built all the kitchen cabinetry himself in the light-filled garage downstairs, which he and visual artist Tanya often use as a studio.
Jean's care and the Polls' thoughtful custodianship of the house mean its design integrity is still intact. In a handing over of the baton, the Polls hosted the Crossley family at Saratoga to mark what would have been Jean's 100th birthday.
Unfortunately for Robert and Tanya, they have to nowleave it all behind them. They're hoping to find something just as special back in London.
