Tree House

An architect-designed home with stunning tree-top views took writer Rebecca Barry Hill back to her roots.

Tree-top views and a touch of recycling

Atreehouse in the bush 10 minutes from central Auckland was the last thing that writer Rebecca Barry Hill and her husband Alex expected to find while house-hunting seven years ago. The light-filled, split-level home designed by architect Paul Higgins in the 1980s struck a chord with her. “We didn’t set out to find a place like this but when we walked in here it was like coming home for me,” says Barry Hill. “There was something around every corner that reminded me of my childhood home.”

She discovered the house in Birkenhead, Auckland, had a number of architectural elements in common with the home she grew up in. “Architecturally it is really clever, and it has an artistic feel. There’s so much movement in the design of the house, too, as though it’s been draped down the hillside,” she says.

The multiple levels have given toddler Zoe plenty of stairclimbing practice. “She loves going up and down and has become really good at it,” says Barry Hill. The home’s well-considered design includes the use of brick, both inside and outside. The living room’s brick fireplace is a stunning focal point and outdoors a brick wall leading to the entranceway contrasts beautifully with the dark cedar weatherboards.

Barry Hill was interested to hear that recycled bricks had been used in the construction. “The couple who built this home originally bought the bricks from a building that was being demolished beneath the Newmarket viaduct. A lot of consideration went into the design of the house and it’s the thoughtful touches like this that make it so special,” she says. g

Character What was it about your home that attracted you? It reminded me instantly of the house I grew up in. There was something so soulful about the architecture. It’s a dynamic layout that surprises you. I never get bored here. My childhood home was on a farm, surrounded by bush, and I just couldn’t believe we could have that similar outlook so close to the city. From the kitchen and bedroom windows you look out across beautiful native bush to the harbour and Rangitoto.

Collectables What are you drawn to? I collected Buddhas for a while and have quite a few scattered around the house. They remind me to chill out, and bring a sense of calm and happiness to the house. I especially love the gold Buddha lamp my husband bought me as a birthday gift. I’ve also amassed heaps of prints, mostly picked up while travelling. My favourite is a rambling staircase print we bought in Positano by local artist Nazario Fusco. Indoor plants are my latest obsession. Greenery can completely enliven a space.

What are the recurring themes in your home? My mum has always loved Southeast Asian artefacts and furniture, and I’ve definitely inherited her taste, even more so since travelling through that part of the world in my 20s, and later to Bali, which I fell in love with. When my husband and I renovated the bathroom in 2017 we were heavily inspired by Balinese design. Lately I’ve been drawn to natural textures that complement the David Trubridge lights and all the exposed timber.

What colours are you drawn to? When we first moved in, I had this hodgepodge of colours going on. If you’ve ever seen the interior of Ron Sang’s house, that was the look I was inspired by – artsy and interesting but on a much smaller budget. These days I prefer subdued colours, particularly the earthy tones from the fireplace in the living room: burnt orange, mushroom, black and white. In the bathroom and Zoe’s room the predominant tone is soft grey, which complements the timber.