Space, sun and coastal fun

activities, with 100m of coastline to explore, access to a good swimming cove, native bush threaded with tracks and inhabited by kiwi and, of course, a yacht in the marina.

There’s a nautical feel to many of the spaces, with the smart detailing and craftsmanship you’d find on a top- quality yacht. Diagonal timber sarking is a feature in many areas, and Alan and Gael have added quirky touches such as posts and door handles made from timber boughs taken out of the bush.

And anyone with even a remote interest in yachting could spend hours looking at pictures, certificates, yacht designs and photographs spanning several decades of work in the industry.

Despite the size of the house, and the fact that it spans several levels with six flights of stairs, Alan says it ‘‘ couldn’t have taken long’’ to design.

‘‘ We built the Loft in 1976 and that took about six months. We did it as a family with builder friends. One son is a builder and the rest made very good labourers.’’

They lived in the Loft while the main house was built alongside. It comprises a multi- purpose hall that has hosted many a party, wedding and 21st, and which is now used as a games room. There’s an adjoining kitchen, a dining area, two four- berth bunk rooms, a bathroom and a large workshop.

One level up is a mezzanine floor with a lounge area, and above that the studio tower with 360- degree views where Alan has worked on the designs of houses and yachts. Size: Price indication: Inspect: On the web: School Zones:

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In those days the road was dirt, and Gael has happy memories of driving her MG to the house at weekends after working in Auckland. It was a dodgy drive in bad weather, though, and sometimes the bus couldn’t make the trip to the point, giving the Warwick children a day off school.

The road is sealed now, and there are a few more houses, but the feeling of being somewhere secluded and special remains.

After 35 years here, letting the house go will be a wrench, but Alan and Gael have plenty to do. They’ve been spending more time in their Auckland design studios in conjunction with developing international buyer interest for vessels, and this offers opportunities for travel to Europe.

In the meantime they’re enjoying perfect autumn weather on the deck in Kerikeri, and watching the boating activity on the bay.

Alan points to the water directly below the deck. ‘‘ The yacht races start right there.’’