Vibrant penthouse

6E, 31 Davis Crescent, Mandalay building, Newmarket. Photo / Getty Images

The owners of a branding agency recognised that this penthouse apartment's size and light-filled nature made it a great find, only five minutes' walk from their business.

Brigitte Richards and her husband Brian, who own Newmarket-based Richards Partners, bought the only two-level, four-bedroom apartment in the Mandalay Building in 2013.

Brigitte says: "We enjoy the vibrancy of Newmarket, its changing dynamics, culture and variety.

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"We had a look at a lot of other apartments and what struck us about this was its lightness and size, plus its privacy and security."

The apartment is named after the iconic Auckland function centre The Mandalay, which hosted decades of events after opening here in 1971.

It was reinvented as apartments with ground floor retail around 2003, the bulk of the residences leased to the Quest Hotel.

6E, 31 Davis Crescent, Mandalay building, Newmarket. Photo / Getty Images

This gives private apartment owners (who have the option of putting their apartment into the rental pool, if desired) the convenience and security of the hotel set-up.

This includes a reception with concierge and secure ground floor car parking.

The Richards' apartment spreads over two levels on the uppermost two floors of the building.

The interior is bathed in natural light with views both towards the Domain and across Newmarket.

Brigitte says: "It just makes the whole apartment so light and sunny. Unlike many apartments there are no rooms here which don't get natural light.

"Also, despite it having such lovely big windows, we have nobody looking in up close, so there's a nice sense of privacy."

The apartment is set back behind lower levels of the building and Brigitte theorises this is why it's quiet.

She likes how central the location is, backed up with the ease of two car parks and a storage locker in the ground-floor parking.

6E, 31 Davis Crescent, Mandalay building, Newmarket. Photo / Getty Images

Brigitte says: "You're in the heart of Newmarket with everything within a very small radius — the Domain, where we often walk, the shops and cafes, the university's Khyber Pass campus, the library, the hospital and the train station.

"The Olympic pools and cinemas are just across the road, AGC is opening a school in the former Maori TV building soon, and the Westfield Newmarket redevelopment is due to open late next year."

Another thing Brigitte appreciates is the generous storage, some of it in multiple cupboards including an understair storage cupboard near the apartment's entry foyer.

There's a nice spot for a seat in the entry foyer, admiring the views out towards Auckland Museum.

The broad sweep of living on this level is generous, flowing out on to a sizeable deck for entertaining.

Brigitte says: "You get a lovely reflective light from the clouds in the sky. And it's beautiful looking out at all the lights in the evening."

The lounge with heat pump is open plan with the contemporary kitchen finished in a dark walnut colour.

6E, 31 Davis Crescent, Mandalay building, Newmarket. Photo / Getty Images

This contrasts nicely with the newly laid light polished floors and Cavalier Bremworth carpet in a soft oatmeal-hued colour named "Fearless".

The apartment has also been recently repainted in Resene Alabaster.

This level also has two good sized bedrooms flanking a tiled bathroom with bath, plus a separate laundry.

Up the stairs, the upper level, which gets a view out to Rangitoto, has two generous bedrooms.

The master with heat pump has an en suite incorporating a bath, and the other bedroom has its own bathroom incorporating a glassless shower with big rain shower head.

The couple are consolidating their property holdings as they own other property including a Kaipara Harbour deer farm where they spend their weekends.

6E, 31 DAVIS CRESCENT, MANDALAY BUILDING, NEWMARKET
• 4 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, 2 parking spaces.
• Apartment 160sq m, plus 30sq m of deck.
• Price: Similar properties sell around $1.9 million.
• Auction: 10am Wed 26 Sept (unless sold prior).
• Inspect: Sat/Sun 11-11.45am.
• Body corp: $14,004 a year.
• Schools: Newmarket School, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls' Grammar.
• Contact: Jill Jackson 021 745 424 and Emma John 021 862 242, Barfoot & Thompson, barfoot.co.nz/762078