On the beach
Apartment living is taking off in New Zealand but few can boast the close proximity to the sea of this art importer’s home, which features in a new book by Catherine Foster.
Situated within touching distance of the high-water line at Point Chevalier Beach, the historic building that now houses Rosie and Andrew Bogle’s apartment (plus three others) was always going to be a redevelopment project with challenges – despite its unparalleled proximity to the Waitemata Harbour.
Built in the lea of a steep hillside to the east, a lack of light to the rear was the major internal disadvantage. Architect Marshall Cook’s solution was to add a full-width glazed extension to form an entrance lobby. Project architect Jennifer Cook (no relation) explains: “Marshall pointed out how glazing this area would solve the lack of light at this deepest part of the interior. It would also encourage a sense of balance with the main light source, the west-facing windows directly opposite.”
Retaining the 4m ridge line of the original pitched ceiling was also important, as this utilised all available volume and minimised the effect of the narrow proportions of the apartment. Bleaching the pine beams to blend with the warm white of the ceiling further contributed to the feeling of spaciousness. Keeping things simple, a galley kitchen was placed along the inner reaches of the northerly party wall, and a small laundry and utility area was inserted into a portion of the lobby. A bedroom, a study and a bathroom were located on the level below.
The simplicity of this floor plan was not merely expedient. As Rosie
Bogle puts it: “The sheer romance of living right here on the waterline overwhelmed everything else. We didn’t mind that it was smaller than the villa we were leaving. We just imagined waking up to the sea at the foot of our bed and everything else paled beside that.”
Although the ocean fills the outlook from the windows upstairs, it is downstairs, where it is quite literally centimetres from the foot of the bed, where it really makes its presence felt. High tides and an offshore wind mean it can be a very real force to contend with, and at times it beats on the structure itself. Consequently, a rigorous maintenance programme is necessary. For the first years of the Bogles’ tenure, a decaying slab of concrete, once the forecourt for an ice-cream kiosk, formed the first line of defence, but in recent years Auckland City has replaced this with part of a coastal walkway. Up close and personal it might be, but in reality walkers remain on the sand below and the strongly built pathway acts as a sturdy breakwater.
The fact that the Bogles are still content in their home 24 years later is proof that sensitively tying a building into a stunning location will always be a winner. No longer would the lower level be considered habitable space, but the fact that they enjoy such an intimate relationship with Nature’s untamed beast is proof that early adopters sometimes do get to enjoy the worm. This conversion might be approaching its quarter-century, but it is one that has well and truly stood the test of time.
Text and photographs from Apartment Living New Zealand by Catherine Foster, Penguin/Random House, $50.