The house wrapped in literature
Ponatahi House, an architecturally designed masterpiece providing an unequalled lifestyle, is for sale for the first time, in the Wairarapa.
This beautiful home at 38 Foreman Jury Rd, showcases 935 square metres of living, recreation facilities, business centre and garaging, on a 9.04 hectare site. The distant and magnificent Taraura Ranges, plus century-old totara trees, provide the framework for refined garden spaces, water features and expansive lawns.
Wellington architect Stuart Gardyne from Architecture + designed the home which was a finalist in the NZ Home and Building - Home of the Year 2004.
Ponatahi House, seamlessly combines comfort, sophistication, and design excellence. Jenny Bornholdt (NZ’s 2005 Poet Laureate) penned a poem specifically to reflect the location, views and history of the re-gion, the verses of which are sandblasted onto the 120 glass panels that distinguish the upper exterior level of the main house. ‘‘That’s why Ponatahi is often referred to as ‘The House Wrapped in Literature,’’’ says Andrew Smith, of Bayleys, who’s marketing the property with David Bayley.
The entrance to Ponatahi is discreetly hidden from the arrival courtyard. The view, on entering through a generous 3m stud vestibule, is to the West and frames the magnificence of the distant mountains.
The living areas, two of which are respectively at each end of the main dwelling, are linked by the very spacious kitchen. The family living areas open to an elevated belvedere amongst the tree tops. The spacious formal living room, with 6.25m stud opens directly to the reflection pond, sculpture garden and formal lawn.
Outdoor living is configured to create simultaneously grand and yet intimate sheltered spaces, where one can enjoy the seasonal variance, from snowcapped peaks to mid-summer twilights.
Complementing the 543sqm five-bedroom main dwelling are a 76sqm guest house with two bedrooms, a 101sqm business centre, pool house and a 159sqm garage / workshop. The guest house and business centre whilst distinct from the main house, are connected by crafted courtyards, walls planting.
A dedicated pool house services the 20m outdoor swimming pool, spa pool and gym. A tennis court and pavilion, sophisticated home cinema and multiple living spaces are samples of the refined comfort the cur-rent owners have thoroughly enjoyed.
‘‘The house is positioned to optimise the magnificent views across the Wairarapa valley to the mountains in the west,’’ Smith says of the stunning eastwest aspect and surrounding farmland.
A smattering of additional elements include: An entertainer’s kitchen with 5.8m stainless steel bench, a 10sqm scullery, hardwood flooring, six bathrooms, several poolside dining options, and a boardroom facil-ity with an adjacent vast lawn proving ample space for landing a helicopter.
‘‘This truly is once-ina-lifetime opportunity,’’ Smith says. ‘‘Rarely, if ever, can you buy a home of this scale and calibre and considered in such a private rural setting. Ponatahi is at the heart of everything people love about the Wairarapa, while being just over an hour’s drive or a 15-minute helicopter flight from Wellington City’’.
‘‘This property is unrivalled throughout the lower North Island in terms of refined living, meticulous de-sign and engineering plus outstanding landscape architecture that merges seamlessly into the expansive wider environment’’.