Olympic staying power
Three homes in 63 years of marriage and couple in their 80s say it’s time to move on, writes Robyn Welsh
Murray Loudon is a man of do’s and don’ts. He and his wife Yvonne don’t sell houses, don’t buy existing homes and don’t do auctions. But don’t think for one moment that their approach to life is all negative. On the positive side, they’ve shifted homes only three times in 63 years of marriage.
All three have been to new homes, including this one that was their first outside Manurewa where they raised three sons and where Murray, a 1956 field hockey Olympian, ran his dentistry practice.
Murray and Yvonne found themselves in Stanley Point 22 years ago, visiting friends who mentioned this property was coming up for auction.
Within a week or so, they had taken a 40km leap of faith across Auckland city to the North Shore.
Says Murray: “I said to the real estate agent, ‘We don’t go to auctions — will you take an offer before the auction?’
“They wanted a price and we gave them our price. That was our best price and here we are.”
After moving into the new brick and tile house they hired Devonport-based architect Geoff Richards to update it.
Twelve years went by and, in 2008, they hired Richards again. Out went the original brick and tile dwelling and in its place a three-level, gabled home took shape, with views, courtyards, living areas,
“The highlight is the harbour view from Devonport naval base round to Auckland’s port and the CBD’s skyscrapers.”
reading areas, bedrooms and bathrooms front and back.
The highlight is the harbour view from Devonport naval base round to Auckland’s port and the CBD’s skyscrapers.
“You can get a view of the sea anywhere, but this is a city view and a working view,” says Murray of the yachting, fishing, commercial and naval shipping that is their visual playground.
Every aspect of this house embraces the original long vistas from the harbour-side formal living through the long galley kitchen on the eastern side round to their informal dining and living on the north side.
Architect Richards’ strategic update has strengthened the connections on all sides, with the installation of a lift through the centre of the house and front and rear glazed extensions to the living areas.
On the harbour side, Richards designed a double-height, conservatory-style extension out to part of the original terrace that was once accessed through large doors.
It has brought Murray and Yvonne closer to the clifftop view away from the southerlies and given them sheltered terrace dining spots. Side louvres aid summer cross-flow ventilation inside. In winter, the slender void between the two levels feeds extra warmth upstairs.
Up here in the master bedroom, the A-frame conservatory encompasses the original deck and its sentinel view of the naval personnel saluting their arrival at the naval base that still delights Yvonne. At the rear north side, a similar extension has given the rear bedroom/lounge shared access to the family room deck.
With its built-in furniture, French oak floors, generous kitchen and a wheelchair-friendly bathroom, this home has delivered everything asked of it twice over.
“We get attached to where we live,” says Yvonne of their reluctant move. Now, in their 80s, it has come time for them to move to living better suited to their needs.