Athfield home could be your castle
The landmark Sir Ian Athfield-designed waterfront home in Eastbourne, Wellington, otherwise known as ‘‘the castle’’, has been put on the market.
Instantly recognisable by its side-byside towers built with 16,000 reclaimed bricks, the seven-floor structure includes three bedrooms, one bathroom and three living areas.
The home boasts many of the late Athfield’s design hallmarks, including rounded walls, slit windows, tile flooring and floor-to-ceiling glass.
Listing agent Sinead Diederich, from Tommy’s Real Estate, said the property already had a lot of interested parties.
‘‘It’s not a home that you can be hohum about, it brings out the creator in everyone,’’ Diederich said.
‘‘How it relates to the land and sea is very impressive with each room offering a different view of the harbour. People also love how clever the architecture is and Athfield’s amazing use of this small piece of land.’’
Diederich sold the home to current owners Brian Wood and Nigel Carter in 2015 after they ‘‘fell in love at first sight’’ when they spied the home on a seaside stroll.
However, they have reluctantly decided to relocate after receiving ‘‘an opportunity they can’t turn down’’.
The ‘‘castle’s’’ original owner, valuer Spencer Logan, was a 23-year-old university student when he bought the piece of land the home now sits on in the early 1970s.
Logan paid $3350 for the 693sqm section, a far cry from today’s inflated property market prices.
But, he had a problem: how was he going to fit a home on the seven metres of usable land available from the edge of the footpath to the base of the property’s sheer cliff?
That’s where Athfield came in.
‘‘I gave him complete freedom and a simple brief: to fit a house on the land,’’ Logan told NZ House & Garden.
‘‘I loved Ath’s plan, I was so excited to have such a stylish design and I was exhilarated by the whole thing,’’ he said.
Wood and Carter are the fourth owners of the iconic property and have relished the opportunity to put their own stamp on it.
‘‘The house has a lovely connection to the outside, through doors, variousshaped windows, views that are framed individually and differently,’’ they said.
Diederich said Wood and Carter were sad to part with the property, but excited to give another lucky family the chance to experience the joy of living in an ‘‘architectural masterpiece’’.
‘‘I have no doubt the next owner will inherit the passion with which the current, and past, owners of this home have cherished it.’’
The house is for sale by negotiation with the owners looking to accept offers in the mid $800,000s.