BATHED IN LIGHT
An airy and spacious penthouse in a heritage building puts you right in the heart of the city, discovers SANDRA GOODWIN
AUCKLAND CITY 6F/5 Parliament St, Westminster Court
OHold your phone camera over the code to see the listing on OneRoof.co.nz ne family has been well served by this heritage building’s superb central location, easing the commute for a high schooler and a Newmarket executive, doubling as a going-out crash pad and helping a son’s tertiary studies.
Learning assistant Glenys Brown and her husband Andrew, who works in insurance, live in a character home at Muriwai, but they know all about apartment living after a stint in Hong Kong.
Glenys says: “We’ve always had an interest in character buildings but what really appealed was this location, so close to
Albert Park, the Domain, handy to all the motorways and walking distance to the Viaduct and local theatre.”
They bought this apartment about a decade ago when their now-adult daughter Kelsey was at Newmarket’s Diocesan School but finding her lengthy bus commute from Muriwai tiring and time-consuming. The solution was for the Browns to buy this two-bedroom penthouse level apartment so Kelsey and her father Andrew, working in Newmarket, could cut their commutes by living here during the week. Westminster Court was built in the 1930s as one of four Courtville buildings but was renamed by Mainzeal when they renovated this building in the 1980s. The uppermost sixth floor which houses this apartment was added then.
Glenys says: “Our apartment has no one above it and has fantastic floor-to-ceiling windows along the open-plan living and bedrooms.” Glenys has enjoyed the bonus of crashing at the apartment occasionally after she and Andrew have been out on the town on weekends. After Kelsey got her licence and could drive to high school at Diocesan from Muriwai, brother Michael and flatmates moved in while he studied at Unitec.
Glenys says the car park accompanying their apartment has been invaluable, especially seeing fewer apartments seem to come with them these days. Additional features include their own storage locker and communal facilities include a swimming pool and spa, outdoor terrace and barbecue area, a live-in manager, visitor parking and guest apartments for those staying over.
Entry into 6F accesses the open plan kitchen-family roomdining with openable Velux ceiling window and a smart kitchen the Browns upgraded.
They used trusted builders to reconfigure a bathroom and toilet into two bathrooms, one now an en suite to the master bedroom with its walk-through wardrobe. Both the open-plan living and the second bedroom at the opposite end from the master open to Juliet balconies.
Glenys says: “The apartment feels light and airy and calming and very secure.”
The building has recently been rewired with communal areas repainted and recarpeting of the latter scheduled soon.
The Browns are selling as this
84m2 apartment is no longer essential, having served its purpose for them.
Liz Derbyshire says: “This is a beautifully maintained, art deco heritage building with loads of period detail. Apt 6F is penthouse level and bathed in light and sun all day long. through wonderful walls of glass.”
Sale: Auction March 11
Contact: Liz Derbyshire, Barfoot and Thompson, 021 661 978