GRACE NOTES
Beauty is at the heart of new development in the bays, writes CATHERINE SMITH
ORAKEI Ngaio & Grace, 15 Ngaio Street 2-3 2 2
Developer Graeme Fan has an eye for beautiful houses, hence the name of property company – Beaudomus. His newest development, on the corner of Ngaio and Grace streets in Auckland’s Orakei – called Ngaio & Grace – is the informed by his years working in London.
“Auckland needs better housing stock in the medium to high density,” Fan says. “It’s good to go up and out, but the city fringe is the focus, within 10km of the city centre.”
Fan is passionate about quality, as are his target buyers – downsizing baby boomers. “They want an apartment response that provides a sense of community, and they want large residences, not shoe boxes.”
When Fan found the 950sq m site, he was determined to create spacious homes – he calls them residences, not apartments – with landscaping that can be enjoyed by all the residents. Apartments range from a roomy 145 sq m to 160 sq m, and many have versatile outdoor winter garden spaces that can be fully enclosed to be used year round.
Fan called on architect Brian Cullen of Paterson Cullen Associates for his deep understanding of high end residential customers in Remuera.
“We still wanted it to feel like a home, not a blob, so purposely broke up the fac¸ade so it looks like a big house,” says Fan.
For the interiors, the pair kept to a very classic and timeless palette, knowing that buyers would want a blank canvas for their own high quality furniture and art. They focussed on creating a large entertainers’ kitchen in oak veneer, with plenty of storage, Miele appliances and a bar that is as lovely for morning coffee as it is for drinks with a crowd.
Opulent finishes in the bathrooms, including a stone bath and polished plaster feature walls, luxury carpets and serious fashionista-sized closets
Fan and Cullen also configured the floor plans so that each apartment has three aspects, more like a house. Level one residences get westerly views of the city and sunsets, the larger upper level ones get spectacular outlooks and privacy.
Fan also added ample parking and a store room for each apartment, although the neighbourhood is within easy walking distance of Tamaki Drive or the Orakei Bay village restaurants and shops. Sale: Price by application
Contact: Trent Quinton, Bayleys, 021 894 070; Paula Halford, 021 705 199