Good views, bright, peaceful and private
It has character, style, space, privacy, is in a prestigious suburb . . . and could be the biggest opportunity on the block, writes Donna Fleming
It’s the kind of house that stops people in their tracks. From the ornate gables and double height entrance doors, through to clever design that floods the interior with light, Linda and Keith Phillips’ Remuera home stands out.
It has character, style, space, privacy — but, sadly, weather tightness issues.
The owners, who had planned on downsizing after 21 years, got a shock when an engineer’s report found weathertightness problems due to the use of gables in the design, and the fact that it’s mostly built from wood and plaster.
“In all the years we have lived here, we have never had a problem with leaks, mould or dampness,” says Linda. “It has always felt like a dry and warm house.”
When the house was built in 1997, wood and plaster were commonly used, and Keith and Linda were keen on the gables, reminiscent of Cape Dutch architecture in their native South Africa.
But unfortunately, although the house is fine to live in at the moment, at some stage it will need major work. It may even be easier to pull it down and start from scratch.
“We have accepted that what we are selling is the site, and the platform to build a brand new home,” says Linda.
And as sites go in sought-after Remuera, this one has plenty of appeal. It’s at the end of a cul-de-sac off prestigious Victoria Ave, and an easy stroll up to the Remuera shops.
The section itself is a generous 1586sq m down a right-of-way. The property is private, faces northwest, has lots of established trees, and offers uninterrupted views over one of King’s School’s football fields to Mt Hobson. The top of Sky Tower is visible in the distance.
Massive earthworks re-configured the sloping site so that the house, terrace and swimming pool sit on the top of the section. Steps lead down to a tennis court.
“It is not easy to find a big site like this, with good views and good sun, in Remuera any more,” says Linda. “And we have really loved the fact that it is so peaceful and private.”
Although it would be the ideal spot for a new home, it does seem a shame to get rid of the existing house. It features an H-shaped layout, with two living areas separated by a formal dining room.
The open plan living and kitchen area includes another dining zone, while the formal lounge used to house a grand piano. The ground floor also includes an office, bathroom, laundry, and threecar garage.
Two staircases at opposite ends of the house lead up to the upper level, which has a master suite with balcony, a guest bedroom with en suite, and a wing for Linda and Keith’s daughters that is made up of two bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom.
Clever use of glazing throughout — including a glass ceiling over the upstairs hallway and conservatory-style angled windows in the living areas — means the house is very light. “Sometimes it’s so bright you have to wear sunglasses inside,” says Linda.
Soaring cathedral ceilings are another feature of the home.
A buyer with vision, patience and deep pockets could always strip back the house — which has a CV of $8.8m — to its steel framing and re-build.